Ford has spent the last three years developing a new strategy for its EVs, which has resulted in a new modular battery platform and a simplified assembly line process.
The company hasn’t shown off a new vehicle yet, but people who work in Ford’s EV assembly plant are very impressed with the new truck. Ford says it will use 40 per cent fewer workstations and require around 25 per cent fewer parts than a traditional car.
Since they’ve been able to go back to the drawing board, Ford has also been able to simplify the network of wires in the new vehicle, making it much easier to build and fix in the future. Ford’s press release says that this will substantially lower the cost of ownership for drivers.
The new modular battery is being made from Ford’s newer LFP batteries, which use lithium phosphate and avoid cobalt and nickel. According to Ford, this all adds up to a more durable cell that can charge faster and is more affordable. A separate report on The Verge says that an LFP battery is about $60-per-kWh while the older NCM models are closer to $100. Ford also says that this new battery design creates more internal space for passengers and storage.
The company isn’t sharing any estimated ranges but says it’s hoping to hit a 0-60Mph time of 4.5 seconds, which should make these new EVs fairly fun to drive, especially with the bottom-weighted design of most EVs.
Ford is hoping to use a technique it’s calling “assembly tree ” in its factories. This means that there will be three sub-assembly lines that all feed into the main line, where the vehicles will be finished. This allows Ford to replace dozens of smaller parts with larger single pieces of unicast aluminum. The company also hopes to make its factories easier for human workers with less bending and twisting.
The company is starting this new design at its factory in Louisville, Kentucky, and there is no word on when it will be expanded to other factories and vehicle types.
Source: Ford
MobileSyrup may earn a commission from purchases made via our links, which helps fund the journalism we provide free on our website. These links do not influence our editorial content. Support us here.
