[Update: corrects Lithium Ion Phosphate to Lithium Iron Phosphate]
Ford will construct a brand new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Marshall, Michigan. The multi-billion-dollar EV battery plant initially slated for development within the Commonwealth of Virginia was shut out by its newly elected governor, Glenn Youngkin. Virginia’s loss — $3.5 billion in preliminary funding and at the least 2,500 high-tech jobs — is Michigan’s achieve.
The MI facility will come on-line in 2026 below the identical circumstances beforehand stipulated in Virginia, together with Ford’s introduced partnership with China’s Modern Amperex Expertise Co., Restricted (CATL) — the part that soured the deal for the Virginia governor. Youngkin referred to as the plant a Chinese language “Computer virus.”
“Ford’s $3.5 billion funding creating 2,500 good-paying jobs in Marshall constructing electrical automobile batteries will construct on Michigan’s financial momentum,” mentioned Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “In the present day’s generational funding by an American icon will uplift native households, small companies, and your entire group and assist our state proceed main the way forward for mobility and electrification. Let’s proceed bringing the availability chain of electrical automobiles, chips, and batteries house whereas creating hundreds of good-paying jobs and revitalizing each area of our state. Since I took workplace, we’ve secured over 30,000 auto jobs and landed a number of electrical automobile and chip-making factories. We’re on the transfer, so let’s maintain our foot on the accelerator.”
Whereas CATL will take part within the new Marshall facility’s battery manufacturing operations, the plant itself might be Ford’s (through a completely owned subsidiary). NCM provides extra energy density and capability alongside cold-weather efficiency, however prices greater than conventional Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries because of the supplies required. LFP batteries are additionally extra tolerant of frequent and excessive cost degree swings, that means prospects can settle into the behavior of absolutely charging and depleting the batteries of their automobiles with much less of a long-term affect on charging capability, and LFP batteries are extra steady and fewer vulnerable to catastrophic thermal occasions.
“Ford’s electrical automobile lineup has generated enormous demand. To get as many Ford EVs to prospects as attainable, we’re the primary automaker to commit to construct each NCM [lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese] and LFP batteries in the US,” mentioned Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “We’re delivering on our commitments as we scale LFP and NCM batteries and hundreds, and shortly hundreds of thousands, of shoppers will start to reap the advantages of Ford EVs with cutting-edge, sturdy battery applied sciences which are rising extra reasonably priced over time.”
LFP batteries might be provided alongside the present Lithium Iron packs in Ford’s present EVs. The F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E will each be provided with LFP packs with a view to assist ease battery-related manufacturing constraints. Previous to the brand new Marshall facility coming on-line (slated for 2026), Ford will supply these batteries immediately from CATL. NCM batteries will proceed to be utilized for current long-range fashions of the Lightning and Mach-E. Ford expects LFP to symbolize about 20% of the corporate’s battery manufacturing capability as soon as its deliberate services are absolutely on-line.
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