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By Charles Poon, Director, Electrified Propulsion Engineering
Today marks a pivotal moment in Ford's electrification journey and for the future of electric vehicles. After intense research and development at our state-of-the-art Battery Center of Excellence, Ion Park, I'm thrilled to share that the Ford team is delivering a game-changing battery chemistry: Lithium Manganese Rich (LMR).
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Charles Poon, Director, Electrified Propulsion Engineering
This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade. The team is already producing our second-gen LMR cells at our pilot line.
The LMR Advantage:
Our LMR battery technology has the potential to make a step change:
Enhanced Safety and Stability: Safety is paramount. We've engineered LMR to achieve a safety profile comparable to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, providing our customers with peace of mind.
Industry-Leading Energy Density: Our LMR boasts a higher energy density than even high-nickel batteries. This translates to greater range, allowing our customers to go further on a single charge and reducing range anxiety.
Unprecedented Cost Reduction: We're targeting a cost significantly lower than current mid-nickel batteries. This breakthrough is critical to achieving true cost parity with gasoline vehicles and making electric vehicles accessible to more people
Ford Ion Park: The Epicenter of Battery Innovation
The LMR work is testament to the incredible talent and dedication of our team at Ion Park. Our Battery Center of Excellence is home to more than 135 world-class chemists, manufacturing engineers and scientists, hailing from the top battery companies and research institutions around the globe. We have gathered them together, equipping them with the most advanced equipment in the world in an environment with no boundaries.
We've fostered a culture of relentless innovation, where challenging convention and pushing the boundaries of what's possible is part of our every day. From materials science to cell design to manufacturing processes, we're tackling every aspect of battery technology with unwavering focus to reduce cost. Ford started by offering nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries and later added lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2023. LMR is the answer to “what next?”
Our Ambition: Affordable Electric Vehicles for Everyone
Our goal is clear: to achieve cost parity with gasoline vehicles and deliver affordable customer solutions tailored to their needs. The introduction of LMR is a key enabler in offering electric vehicles that are both accessible and desirable.
It’s an honor to be part of the Ford team as we achieve this significant milestone.
