Ford simply introduced its new universal EV platform that’s anticipated to rein in prices for the corporate’s cash shedding EV enterprise. Chief amongst these price financial savings can be a a lot, a lot smaller battery.
Ford mentioned the brand new battery can be 15 p.c smaller than that of a BYD Atto electrical crossover. BYD makes use of the identical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry that Ford says it’s going to use in its future EVs, beginning with a four-door midsized pickup in 2027.
The BYD Atto 3 presents two battery choices: a 49.92 kWh pack and a 60.48 kWh pack. That would imply Ford is taking a look at a battery with 51 kWh capability, smaller than first-gen the Chevy Bolt’s 57 kWh pack. That’s tiny, particularly by at present’s requirements of EVs with 300-miles-plus of vary.
Ford acknowledges that the smaller battery will end in much less vary than usually obtainable. Alan Clarke, the corporate’s head of superior EV improvement, mentioned if you happen to dropped this new powertain into a standard ICE truck, you’d get 50 miles much less vary.
Clarke mentioned the corporate is hoping to spice up the vary by way of improved aerodynamics.