"To get more out of a smaller battery, Ford has had to reimagine every step of its manufacturing process. It has scrapped the typical assembly line process in favor of what the automaker calls its "Ford Universal EV Platform," and simplified every part of its EV, from the miles of wiring inside the electric system to the number of parts that make up its frame."
"Batteries are a massive challenge to designing affordable, efficient EVs. The battery makes up at least 25% of an EV's total weight and around 40% of its total cost. In recent years, EV batteries have kept getting bigger. A bigger battery can add miles to an EV's range, but that also means adding more weight, which makes an EV less efficient, and potentially more difficult to handle. It also means more production costs, which could make that EV more expensive."
Ford is pursuing smaller, more efficient batteries to produce lower‑cost electric vehicles, beginning with a mid‑size truck priced from $30,000 and slated for 2027. The company redesigned manufacturing, replacing a traditional assembly line with the Ford Universal EV Platform and simplifying components such as wiring and frame parts. Battery development focused on efficiency and lower production costs, aided by technologies from Auto Motive Power, acquired in 2023. Batteries account for at least 25% of vehicle weight and roughly 40% of cost. Larger batteries increase range but add weight, reduce efficiency, and raise production expenses, so Ford prioritized system‑level simplification to optimize smaller batteries.
Read at Fast Company
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