Ford uses cylindrical lithium batteries

Charles Poon, director of electrified propulsion engineering at Ford, revealed on Linkedin that the automaker has been working on utilizing Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR) battery chemistry for its upcoming electric vehicles, and that the chemistry will be scaled and integrated into production vehicles before the decade is out.

Ford currently uses nickel cobalt manganese batteries, compared with which, LFP batteries have a lower energy density but are cheaper, have a longer shelf life and are less prone to overheating. Ford Chairman Bill Ford said at the event on Monday that CATL will assist in helping the automaker speed up building the batteries themselves.

In any event, this isn't the first time Ford has announced an EV battery chemistry pivot. Three years ago, the company revealed that the Ford Mustang Mach-E would switch to a lithium iron phosphate chemistry for its standard range models. The first examples arrived at American dealers less than one year later.

The move came just as Ford announced on Monday plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an EV battery plant in Michigan. The plant, which is expected to open in 2026 and employ 2,500, will produce new lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, batteries.

Ford also has a stake in Solid Power, a company devoted to solid-state battery technology company. Ford expects solid state batteries won't arrive until next decade. Details here. Ed owns a 1986 Ford Taurus LX, and he routinely daydreams about buying another one, a fantasy that may someday become a reality.

Three years ago, the company revealed that the Ford Mustang Mach-E would switch to a lithium iron phosphate chemistry for its standard range models. The first examples arrived at American dealers less than one year later. Those batteries come from CATL, while the nickel cobalt manganese battery for the long range model is supplied by LG.