Here at Charged, we don’t usually repeat superlative claims—“the first, the biggest, the fastest”—we leave those to the Guinness Book of Records. In this case, however, we’ll make an exception. Ford says its plan to build two new manufacturing complexes in Tennessee and Kentucky represents “the largest ever manufacturing investment at one time by any… Read more »
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Ford and Redwood Materials to collaborate on battery recycling
Redwood Materials, the battery materials firm founded by Tesla cofounder JB Straubel, has announced a partnership with Ford. The two companies will work together to “create a closed loop for battery recycling and a domestic supply chain for critical battery materials.” Ford also made a strategic investment of $50 million in Redwood. “Excited to work… Read more »
Five companies produce almost all EV battery cells for the US market
Five companies (AESC, LG Chem, Panasonic, Samsung and SK Innovation) produced almost all the battery cells used in plug-in vehicles for the US market over the past decade. Total capacity produced was 75,933 MWh. Panasonic supplied 74% of all the cells, and a majority of these were installed in Tesla battery packs. A small percentage… Read more »
Ford EV head: “We are not in this to build a couple of trucks.”
Over the years, Charged has reported on many EV initiatives from major automakers. These have always been announced with great fanfare, and promises of “commitment” to electrification, but after a couple of years and a couple thousand EV sales, most of these “new eras” have quietly faded away (Ford’s 2012 e-mobility effort was just one… Read more »
Ford raises its EV game: 40% pure EVs by 2030, new platforms, new battery initiatives and more
In a virtual meeting with investors, Ford outlined a plethora of plans to expand its electrification efforts. There was a big bundle of news, which will take the media some days to fully unpack, but the gist of it is that, under a plan dubbed Ford+, the automaker will be allocating capital to three priority… Read more »
GM and LG to build second US battery plant in Tennessee
Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, have announced plans to build a second US battery cell manufacturing plant, in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The companies will invest some $2.3 billion in the new facility, which will supply battery cells to GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant. Construction on the 2.8 million-square-foot… Read more »
Settlement of dispute between South Korean battery makers is good news for US auto industry
LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation have settled a long-running trade dispute, clearing the way for SK to proceed with construction of a battery factory in Commerce, Georgia that is slated to supply batteries to Ford and Volkswagen. The International Trade Commission decided in February that SK stole 22 trade secrets from LG Energy, and… Read more »
Passenger EV battery capacity reached 134.5 GWh in 2020
In 2020, a total of 134.5 GWh of passenger EV battery capacity was deployed globally in newly sold passenger EVs, an increase of 39.6% over the prior year, according to an analysis by Adamas Intelligence. This figure excludes an additional 15 to 20 GWh of installed passenger EV battery capacity idling in sales channels and… Read more »
2019 Kia Niro EV: An impressive electric compact suggests good things from future Kia EVs
Kia may be the auto brand with the biggest disconnect between perception and reality in the US today. It makes stylish, modern vehicles – passenger cars plus a growing range of crossover utilities – packed with advanced features. It’s a legitimate competitor to Toyota, Honda, and others. But ask the average buyer if he or… Read more »
Battery testing start-up Novonix has spun off PUREgraphite to manufacture anode material in the US
Batteries are ubiquitous in our modern lives. Take a look around you and count how many items need be plugged in and recharged. If you’re at your desk, the answer might be four or five. If you’re out for a run, perhaps two or three. If you’re in a garage, there may only be one,… Read more »