The facility will develop and manufacture lithium-ion and solid-state battery cells.
The Romulus, Mich., laboratory is part of Ford’s $185 million investment in battery development.
The lab opens next year and will include a team of up to 200 engineers.
Of the many challenges posed by the auto industry’s transition to electric vehicles, battery development is one of the most important and complex. Ford has now taken an important step in furthering its battery technologies with its new Ion Park in Romulus, Michigan.
The new collaborative learning laboratory has a very specific and multi-faceted goal: Driving high-volume battery cell delivery, better range, and lower costs for customers.
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“Ford already is delivering on our plan to lead the electric revolution with strong new vehicles including Mustang Mach-E, 2022 E-Transit available late 2021 and the 2022 F-150 Lightning available from spring next year,” said Anand Sankaran, Ford Ion Park director. “The new lab will help Ford speed up the battery development process to deliver even more capable, affordable batteries and is part of Ford’s renewed commitment to making Michigan a centerpiece of its focus on EVs.”
The laboratory, an existing 270,000 sq.-ft. facility that Ford will completely refurbish, will open next year and house up to 200 engineers. They will research and quickly scale breakthrough battery cell designs for future applications.