Ford introduced on Monday that it’s planning the set up of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries into its Mustang Mach-E beginning later in calendar yr 2023 and its F-150 Lightning in calendar yr 2024.
The shift will probably convey decrease EV costs, though that can “depend upon what occurs with the market,” in accordance with Ford Mannequin E chief buyer officer Marin Gjaja.
The chief added: “The entire intent right here is to make these extra reasonably priced and accessible.”
Mach-E Customary Vary will get LFP cells beginning later this yr, F-150 Customary Vary early subsequent yr—with the shift probably not occurring all of sudden however a trim degree at a time. Prolonged Vary and something performance-oriented will stick with the present nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry that’s utilized in these fashions at the moment.
From 2026, LFP cells for Ford merchandise will come from a Michigan battery plant established with know-how from China’s CATL. Within the meantime, cells for these merchandise are more likely to come from certainly one of CATL’s vegetation in China.
Ford evaluating NCM and LFP battery varieties
Ford LFP battery advantages
Causes behind the shift to LFP
In a presentation Monday, Ford outlined a number of the causes behind the shift. LFP batteries have distinctive sturdiness, and so they may also help strengthen the availability chain whereas utilizing fewer high-demand, high-cost supplies and mineral sources. Additional, they are often charged from 0% to 100% each day—one thing that’s not beneficial for the NCM chemistries which might be at present used within the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit if full vary isn’t wanted.
Ford additionally famous that due to these traits, LFP batteries are additionally a most popular selection for bidirectional charging, as is already supplied with an F-150 Lightning house energy backup system.
Alternatively, LFP cells are sometimes sluggish and slower to fast-charge on the coldest ambient temperatures. They’re additionally not one of the best choose for top efficiency or the longest vary, partly as a result of they pack extra weight for a similar vitality; however as Ford emphasised within the technique under, it solely sees LFP batteries as primarily satisfying the fleet and entry-level portion of the market.
Ford multi-chemistry strategy for EV batteries
A distinct sort of lithium-ion
As a subset of lithium-ion battery tech, LFP cells use lithium iron phosphate because the cathode and graphite because the electrode. These cells are far much less liable to the thermal runaway that may trigger fires or degradation from overheating, however a spread of sources now recommend they final considerably longer.
LFP cells aren’t depending on nickel and cobalt, two supplies which might be costly, supply-constrained, and an enormous elevate for the availability chain.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s electrical autos are powered by LFP cells. The know-how, led by China’s BYD a decade in the past, has superior in its newest type within the BYD Blade battery, whereas CATL can also be a number one producer.
Ford evaluating battery type elements, in shift to LFP
Ford-CATL LFP prismatic cells for Mach-E, F-150 Lightning
Change in type issue, too
The battery chemistry gained’t be the one factor that modifications in autos that make the shift to LFP, Ford executives famous. The battery type issue shall be completely totally different, too. These fashions will use prismatic cells versus the pouch cells utilized in present fashions; and so they’ll be bigger. Ford famous, at greater than double the capability in ampere-hours.
Meaning much less bussing between the cells themselves, which helps mitigate a number of the vitality losses from these much less energy-dense cells, Ford defined.
Ford didn’t clarify additional what this implies for the longer term in precise pack structure—or to what degree it probably means skipping modules or packs sooner or later. CATL, as an illustration, has what it phrases a “disruptive” water-cooling design that allows a cell-to-pack structure with spectacular vitality densities to rival that of these costlier cell varieties.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Knowledgeable by information and bottom-line value
The corporate did underscore that the shift to LFP cells was a part of a choice to diversify its battery choices to higher match product utilization and buyer wants.
Ford’s linked car information staff has been learning aggregated, anonymized car information to grasp how its EVs are used. And from that, it discovered the typical Mustang Mach-E driver sometimes goes simply 32 miles a day, with a visit distance averaging simply 5 miles at a time. Additional, 95% of Mach-E clients begin their journeys at ambient temperatures above freezing.
It says that it doesn’t have a full yr of information on F-150 Lightning use but, nevertheless it’s already seen that 89% of shoppers begin their journeys above freezing.
2022 Ford E-Transit
Ford didn’t affirm that LFP batteries are additionally headed into its E-Transit supply vans quickly, however as its personal chart above confirmed, fleet autos appear to fulfill the profile of fashions which might be charged to 100% each day.