Ford hints at launching lithium iron phosphate battery electric vehicles

 According to foreign media reports, in addition to the nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries currently used, Ford may launch electric vehicles equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Ford CEO Jim Farley recently hinted at this possibility during the Q&A portion of an earnings call, saying, "We've been working on LFP for a long time, and adding LFP solutions to our first generation of products, we think this is a huge opportunity for us to grow quickly."

Ford appears to be familiar with LFP batteries and may soon launch LFP versions of its electric vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E, E-Transit and F-150 Lightning.

Due to the lower energy density, LFP batteries will be used in entry-level versions of certain models (lower range). The Ford E-Transit seems to fit this profile very well, as not all commercial vans require a long range. The Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning may also be under consideration by Ford.

Image credit: Ford

LFP batteries are cheaper and may be a more environmentally friendly option. They contain no cobalt or nickel, have a longer cycle life and offer better safety.

Tesla has already adopted LFP batteries on a large scale, with almost half of the electric vehicles produced by the company in the first quarter of 2022 using LFP batteries. Other electric vehicle manufacturers have also added LFP battery versions to some models. For example, Rivian announced the launch of LFP battery pack versions of the R1T pickup, R1S SUV and EDV van.

It’s not surprising that Ford might adopt LFP batteries in its products. LFP is just a special lithium-ion cathode material that has been successfully used in some products.