Affordable Electric Vehicles on the Horizon from Ford: Anticipation for an Electric Ford Fiesta
Ford Embraces Electrification: New Platform, Partnerships, and Affordable EVs
Ford Motor Company is making a significant push into the electric vehicle (EV) market, unveiling a new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform for future EVs and announcing partnerships to bring affordable and efficient electric vehicles to consumers.
The American automaker's new platform is designed to underpin various vehicle types, including hatchbacks, pick-ups, and commercial vehicles. One of the key features of this platform is the use of 'Unicasting' technology, which allows for complex structures to be created in one go, reducing costs and production time by 40%.
In addition, Ford has revealed that its new EVs will come with prismatic lithium-ion Phosphate batteries, promising more range, lower weight, and cost savings. The production line for these vehicles will use a 'Three Tree' assembly setup, merging three production lines into a single final assembly line.
Ford's focus on EVs is particularly strong in the UK and Europe. In fact, every Ford vehicle in Europe will be an EV by 2030, and every model will be EV or PHEV by 2026. To help achieve this goal, Ford will build at least one new electric car for Europe in 2023 using Volkswagen's MEB Platform for electric cars. The specific vehicle type for this collaboration has not been specified.
In another significant move, Ford has taken a $500 million stake in Rivian, the electric vehicle startup that recently revealed a new electric SUV and pick-up. This partnership will see Ford developing new EVs for Ford using Rivian's technology.
The first vehicle built on the new platform will be an electric pick-up about the size of the Ranger, expected to cost around £22k in 2027. Assuming all goes to plan, an electric replacement for the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus could be developed at affordable prices.
As car makers transition to electric vehicles, commercial tie-ups are becoming more common. Ford's partnership with Volkswagen is a result of the cost of moving into electric cars to meet stricter emissions regulations. This collaboration will see Ford developing the new electromobility platform for Europe from 2023 to 2027 together with Volkswagen.
While Ford may focus on hybrids rather than EVs for Europe, it has plans for proper EVs in the pipeline. The automaker is expected to roll out its new platform and vehicles globally, marking a significant step forward in Ford's electrification strategy.
