The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) has closed a direct loan of up to $9.63 billion to BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and South Korean battery supplier SK On, for the construction of up to three manufacturing plants to produce batteries for Ford’s future Ford and Lincoln EVs. The plants—one located… Read more »
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Ford expands its BlueOval EV charging network
Ford is adding charging providers Francis Energy, Blink and Red E to its BlueOval Charge Network. The addition of more than 10,000 chargers from the three new providers will bring BlueOval’s total to 106,000, including 11,800 fast chargers. The company has also announced that it will provide EV drivers access via an adapter to an… Read more »
Ford to build new T3 electric truck at BlueOval City in Tennessee
Construction is on track at Ford’s new BlueOval City campus in West Tennessee, where EV production is to begin in 2025. It sounds like quite a place—Ford and battery partner SK On plan to invest $5.6 billion and create 6,000 new jobs at the 3,600-acre campus, which will include a vehicle assembly plant, a battery… Read more »
ExxonMobil signs lithium offtake agreement with SK On
Oil companies getting involved in lithium production? Yes. Global EV battery manufacturer SK On has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ExxonMobil for a potential lithium offtake agreement. The terms enable SK On to explore a multiyear agreement that would allow it to secure up to 100,000 metric tons of lithium from ExxonMobil’s… Read more »
Allego to supply fast EV chargers to Ford’s European dealerships
International EV charging network Allego, headquartered in the Netherlands, plans to supply high-power EV chargers with capacities of up to 400 kW to hundreds of Ford dealerships across Europe. Deployment of the technology to Ford’s public BlueOval Charge Network, which includes 600,000 charging points across 36 European countries, is expected to begin this year. Ford… Read more »
GM agrees to unionize EV battery plants. Will other US automakers follow suit?
The United Autoworkers’ strike doubtless has multiple causes, but the transition to EVs is certainly one bone of contention. EVs are simpler machines than legacy vehicles, and many expect this to translate into less demand for human labor. A wave of new battery plants will surely create new jobs, but some fear that automakers will… Read more »
Is the Ford/Tesla charging agreement as big a deal as everyone thinks?
Unless you’ve just emerged from an internet-free retreat, you’ve surely heard that Tesla and Ford are planning to cooperate to open up the former’s Supercharger network to drivers of the latter’s EVs. The announcement quickly took over every EV-related news feed. Is this deal really as “surprising,” “unprecedented” and “game-changing” as people are saying? Yes… Read more »
SK On partners with Westwater Resources to develop anode materials in US
South Korean battery manufacturer SK On has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with US graphite company Westwater Resources (NYSE: WWR) as part of efforts to strengthen its battery raw material supply chain in North America. Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to develop environmentally responsible anode materials tailored for SK On… Read more »
New Ford E-Transit Courier will offer more cargo space, new connectivity features
Ford Pro has unveiled a new version of the Ford Transit commercial van. The new Transit Courier will be available in Europe with a range of legacy engines later this year, and an electric version, the E-Transit Courier, is to follow in 2024. All models will be built by Ford Otosan in Craiova, Romania. (Ford… Read more »
Ford to build new LFP battery plant in Michigan
Ford plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an LFP battery plant in Marshall, Michigan. BlueOval Battery Park Michigan will initially employ 2,500 people when production begins in 2026. The automaker will offer LFP (lithium iron phosphate) as a second battery chemistry option in addition to NCM (nickel cobalt manganese), allowing customers to choose an… Read more »