New lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries will be added to upcoming and existing Ford models, such as the Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford announced earlier this week. They will be produced at a brand-new $3.5 billion facility called BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall, Michigan. Starting in 2026, the factory, which will be a part of a Ford subsidiary owned entirely by Ford, will employ 2,500 people and have the option to expand capacity.
Ford will be able to offer less expensive models to customers thanks to its commitment to LFP batteries. They will take the place of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries in a lot of models with lower ranges and lower power, allowing Ford to cut prices for customers. Additionally, it will enable Ford to ensure that its automobiles are more in line with the most recent federal tax credits.
The Mach-E has had a difficult few months due to a lack of reliability, which resulted in it losing Consumer Reports' "recommended" rating. These issues ranged from technical glitches to charging issues and even the failure of battery cells.
We are aware that Ford has been experiencing reliability issues for some time now, and we are also aware that the production issues that are causing them will require several years to resolve. One solution will be to switch to these new kinds of batteries.
So, how do these new batteries fare in comparison to the NCM ones? In the past, LFP batteries lacked the lightness and energy efficiency necessary for passenger cars. Many businesses have been able to develop innovations over time that have advanced technology. Now, the batteries outperform the NCM ones in a number of important ways.
First, the batteries will use less precious metal from the United States than from Russia and the Congo, where they get most of their supply. As a result, they will be less expensive and better protected against problems with the supply chain, such as an invasion or global pandemic, while also ensuring that the materials are ethically sourced.
The batteries will also have a longer life expectancy than their NCM counterparts and will be less vulnerable to degradation from high-rate charging and typical battery usage in the long run.This is important because many EV batteries are only expected to last for half of a car's lifespan, which means they will cost a lot to replace.
Because the technology isn't as energy-dense as the NCM batteries, high-range and performance models will probably continue to use the NCM batteries for now. In addition, the batteries perform poorly in the cold, resulting in slower charging times and reduced performance. This is bad news because the Mach-E already performs poorly in cold weather. If you live in a colder area, this is especially important to keep in mind.
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