Ford invests $5 billion in a new line of electric vehicles 0 18

Ford is betting on a new generation of electric vehicles and is ready to invest $5 billion in the project, CNBC reports. At the core of this strategy is the technology that Tesla first implemented in its Cybertruck in 2023.

Historically, automakers have used a 12-volt power system with a separate lead-acid battery. In electric vehicles, there is already a main traction battery that drives the car, but a conventional 12-volt battery is also maintained in parallel. It powers all auxiliary electronics – headlights, audio systems, power windows, control units. However, in electric vehicles, this scheme has become problematic and has even led to returns of cars back to the manufacturer.

The new electrical system works differently. Instead of a separate 12-volt battery, the main traction battery of the electric vehicle is used, and inside the car, power is distributed through a 48-volt onboard network.

According to company representatives, the transition to 48 volts increases efficiency, enhances the capacity of the electrical system, and reduces the weight of the vehicle by decreasing the amount of wiring. If necessary, the voltage can be lowered to 12 volts using new electronic control units (ECUs) that distribute power among various components of the car.

"It’s cheaper, there are fewer wires, and this is the future of the automotive industry," noted Ford employee Alan Clark, who previously worked at Tesla.

In 2023, Tesla CEO Elon Musk sent a sort of guide on developing 48-volt systems to competitors, including Ford and General Motors. Clark emphasized that Ford decided to transition to 48 volts before receiving the letter. However, the document helped component suppliers prepare more quickly to work with the new architecture.

The new electrical system is just part of a broader strategy. Ford expects that the combination of technological solutions will allow the new generation of electric vehicles to compete with Tesla and rapidly growing Chinese brands in the global market. The first model on the new platform will appear in 2027 – it will be a compact electric pickup priced around $30,000.

The new vehicles will be built on a unified platform called Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV). Ford hopes that through new technologies and process optimization, the cost of electric vehicles will approach the price of internal combustion engine cars. Currently, it is the expensive batteries that make electric vehicles significantly more costly to produce.