Ford's answer to EV supply chain hell: Cheaper batteries

Post by stavros » Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 11:55 AM UTC

adrianN wrote: post #23

acd wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can make a self driving truck/electric vehicle lane where the speed limit is 80km/h. Paint a green line in the middle of the ev-lane and it should make self driving more easy to implement. Reason for slower speed wind resistance is far less at 80km/h. Energy use is quadratic concerning speed. So make a movie streaming ev-lane. Also one could fit cars with rail gear and run them on rail tracks on the highway which…

If people wanted to travel 80km/h they could do so today. It is well known that going slower improves fuel efficiency. I'm asking for things like improved drivetrain efficiency and better aerodynamics.

Post by jackmott » Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 12:07 PM UTC

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #4

This is huge. To date, Tesla has been the only non-Chinese manufacturer talking iron. LFP is often touted for being cheaper than NMC, but given growing insecurity around battery-grade nickel supplies, using the far-more-prevalent iron and phosphate isn’t just about cheaper cars. It’s about having cars to sell in the first place. With respect to range anxiety, pretty much every EV in the 200 to 300-mile range is sold…

Post by mmaurizi » Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 12:19 PM UTC

iasay wrote: post #58

NickNameNick wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Replacing major components of an internal combustion vehicle will frequently cost more than the car is worth. That's usually the cause of scrapping a vehicle in places where structural rust didn't get it first. What would it cost to replace the engine or gearbox of your car?

They do below a certain point yes. But at that point you just buy another one and drive it until the engine falls out. This is how most people operate. On my vehicle an engine costs about £1275 to put a refurb in it. Gearbox about £550. There is no rust anywhere on my 8 year old vehicle. People run like this out of financial necessity. They don’t have enough income to run an EV.

Post by konschubert » Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 12:22 PM UTC

tuatoru wrote: post #93

konschubert wrote: post #49

The only thing that tops range anxiety for me is battery degradation anxiety. I would probably be totally fine with a lower range if I know that my battery can do 100 000 cycles.

For a practical car, 200 to 500 full charge cycles per year is all that could happen. 200 for a suburban family car, 500 for an urban commercial vehicle. (200 cycles per year would be perceived by an owner as being "every day", because the days she's away on holiday or sick at home or WFH are not remembered. Nor would she remember that she only charges once on weekends.) 100_000 cycles is therefore 20 to (more likely…

Post by chiph » Sun, Jul 24, 2022, 12:28 PM UTC

tedk-42 wrote: post #70

bell-cot wrote: post #67

> Automotive giant Ford is shoring up its battery supply chain — partly by importing lower-cost, iron-based batteries popular in China — as it sprints to increase electric vehicle production. Old geezer's perspective: Back in its heyday, Ford Motor was one of the most vertically integrated (large manufacturing) companies in the world. They owned and operated their own fleet of ore carriers (cargo ships), to haul iron…

> Current-day Ford Motor having to go begging to China - for a major, iron-based component needed to produce more cars - that is laughable, and beyond pathetic. In a dark, miserable sort of way, if you care about America or its future. Sounds similar to Boeing where accounting for personal gain (promotions / raises) of upper managers and executives took effect over the long term advantage of the company.