Making the transition to an all-electric future takes more than slick advertising campaigns and impressive range-per-charge figures – it’s also going to require a lot of batteries. General Motors has already announced the construction of several new battery plants in the U.S., and now, crosstown rival Ford is getting in on the game as well.
In a recent press release, Ford announced that it would manufacture battery cells and arrays at two plants in the U.S. for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The batteries will be produced under a new joint venture between Ford and South Korean battery maker SK Innovation. The new joint venture is dubbed BlueOvalSK.
“Through the JV, Ford and SKI will jointly develop and industrialize battery cells at scale that are tailored to deliver optimum performance and value for our Ford and Lincoln customers,” said Lisa Drake, Ford’s North America chief operating officer. “SKI is an important partner in helping deliver batteries with better range and value for our fully electric vehicles by mid-decade.”
The new joint venture will produce roughly 60 GWh worth of battery cells and array modules annually, with plans to begin production around the 2025 calendar year. Output will rise to 240 GWh by 2030, with 140 GWh for the U.S. market, and the remaining 100 GWh for the Chinese and European markets.
Ford recently pulled the sheets on the 2022 F-150 Lightning, the all-electric variant of the automaker’s popular pickup truck. The extended-range F-150 Lightning is equipped with two electric inboard motors, producing upwards of 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque. So equipped, the sprint to 60 mph takes roughly 4.5 seconds, while range-per-charge is set at 300 miles. The standard F-150 Lightning produces 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, and can range out to 230 miles.
Meanwhile, General Motors is constructing two battery plants in the U.S. under a joint venture with LG Chem, including a facility in Lordstown, Ohio, and another near the automaker’s Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee.
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Comments
GM is ahead of Ford with its EV plans, GM is already working on the next-gen Ultium batteries with 500-600 miles of range.
GM will also have 70GWh of battery capacity available in 2023 with 35GWh of that available starting later this year.
Hmm, seems a Detroit automaker had a similar announcements from last year, but that automaker already has the first plant nearly completed, and the second is already under construction
This truck is just a rushed deal to be first. It was announced Ford is working on a platform for their EV vehicles like GM already has.
The Lighting is just a F150 they modified to show they were not as behind as they are.
so are you implying that since the silverado ev is purpose built, it will blow the lightning out of the water?
so we can expect it will be better in every way otherwise it will be a failure. great, can’t wait for it to come out and see what gm’s headstart in evs brings.
@steve, this will be very interesting to see what the Silverado EV has for specs. Considering the weight of the Hummer Ev which is on the same structural backbone, I am worried the Silverado EV is going to have a curb weight 7600 to 8000 lbs, with 400 miles of range (200 kWh pack) Unless GM pulls some rabbits out of the hat in aerodynamic, and power electronics efficiency, its going to be hard to match the Ford F150 Lighting which is less mass and actually quite aerodynamic (I see some pretty cool aerodynamic tricks on the Lighting) in efficiency, and no way to match the Rivian or Cybertruck which both have smaller frontal areas, and will be lighter.
I like the talk of a $12500 tax rebate for Union built EV’s, that will help us buy these giant battery packs.
if gm’s silverado ev comes out and it is more or less the same in terms of specs as the lightning, the obvious question will be where did all of the r&d money go?
gm has been beating the ev drum earlier and louder than ford for years and if all they have to show for it is a product that is middle of the pack in comparison to johnny come lately ford, that would be an epic failure.
GM has already said the Silverado is going to be capable of a 400+ mile range. That already beats Ford’s Lighting by 100 miles
so gm is going to pull another hummer and make porky pickup?
Exactly what I am afraid of… GM’s idea of range engineering seems to be stuff the rig full of batteries and weight it down to where it has no capability left. This is why Tesla is so hard to beat, they keep the weight down and give you the range. It seems to me Ford is planning for the lightning to have consumption around 450-475 wh/mi, which is not bad for a pickup, Hummer will be closer to 700 wh/mi, hopefully the Silverado EV can get somewhere around 500 ‘ish wh/mi, If the Silverado EV is there, that is not too bad with the 400 mile range. Ford’s truck is pretty efecient with their off the shelf aluminum parts.
The difference is Tesla makes a battery that basically has to be removed and replaced if there are any problems with a cell versus GM’s moduler approach.
The Lighting is meant for everyday off-road (dirt trails), construction area, etc… For that type of duty, GM can remove all the heavy-duty components that make up the Hummer. For example, Just look at the suspension components on the Lighting and compare them to the Hummers. There is a very big difference.
Well if the Lighting was all it should be why is Ford now doing a dedicated platform just as GM is doing?
My impression is Ford thinks they can do better by their actions so why why should I think different.
Like most things. A tool or vehicles designed to be purpose built for a specific need or application is often better than one that is modified for the job. A socket is better than pliers on a bolt.
Time is the prover so we will find out won’t we?
The GM platform is adaptable to the application and it can be design for each need. While it may share some with the Hummer I expect it to be lighter cheaper and more in tune for a pickup.
Where are all the usual suspects to tell us what a mistake EVs are and how they’re Communist tools to subjugate us?
Don’t forget 5he one screaming about crappy interiors.
just because you build the plant doesn’t mean customers want the product. maybe they do and then again maybe they don’t.
Why do we have to say it again if you already know?
Meanwhile, back at the microchip farm…they pray for rain…
Always the same. Pointing out shortfalls when its really the leading edge of a new order. Why wouldnt the gm truck have longer range? Its coming out later than the Ford so it follow s that it will go farther due to advances in battery and utilization. You can sleep well knowing that the ford will have increased range in a years time as well. Maybe even a different battery design. Same for the Silverado. Even as gm is working thru the development of the EV Silverado there are changes happening with battery development. The choices are going to be endless. Competition makes better.