Ford F-150 Lighting was only the beginning: Ford is betting big on electric cars

Ford F-150 Lighting was only the offset: Ford is betting big on electric cars

(Image credit: Ford)

The gasoline car is eventually going to go disappear, replaced with electrical. Automakers know that, and Ford is the latest visitor to be talking most its plans for the all-electric future.

The details for the U.S. switchover are a little unclear, but given European government's plans to ban gasoline cars by 2030, Ford has announced it'll but be selling EVs there by 2030. Or possibly fifty-fifty sooner.

Everything nosotros know nearly the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup
These are the best electric cars you lot can buy right now
Plus: Sony headphones leak reveals new model to follow the WF-1000XM4

This news comes from Kumar Halhotra, Ford'southward President of the Americas and International Market Grouping, and before long subsequently the reveal of the new all-electrical Ford F-150 Lightning pickup.

Halhotra noted that the European and American markets are in very different places right now, and it's clear when Europe volition exist making the transition to all-electrical driving. While that'due south nonetheless coming to the U.S., information technology's non at a point where Ford can put a definitive appointment on it.

The company does believe that it volition have a better idea of what the time to come brings by the time the Lightning goes on auction next year. Meanwhile GM, one of Ford's biggest competitors, is aiming for a total naught-emission calorie-free-duty line-up by 2035. Thought it has noted that consumer reaction could change that.

And so while it's practiced news for Europe, it's non and then good news for America. However Ford does believe it will be selling plenty electric vehicles in the U.S. to enable domestic battery production by 2025.

Ford batteries could soon be made in the U.S.

Hau Thai-Tang, Ford's principal production platform and operations officer, told CNBC that the visitor doesn't "have to scale to justify our own dedicated bombardment plant." Though Thai-Tang did add that "past 2025, as we bring on the F-150, the Eastward-Transit and another battery electric vehicle that we've appear, we'll take plenty volume in North America to justify our own found."

It's non clear what this new electric car Thai-Thang was referring to is. Ford certainly hasn't made whatever official announcements notwithstanding. So that'southward something to look forrad to over the coming months.

That said the exact timing of these bombardment-manufacturing plans volition modify depending on the land of the EV marketplace, consumer demand, and Ford's own R&D progress. And then zero is guaranteed, only information technology'due south squeamish to see that Ford has some future plans laid out.

Plus existence able to produce its ain batteries in the U.South. has some clear advantages. In that location are fewer transport costs involved, specially if it'll be assembling cars domestically. The shorter altitude needed to transport finished batteries should also speed upwards the manufacturing procedure. Not having to rely on a third political party also means Ford will take amend control over the whole situation.

Ford has promised big investments in battery technology recently, including an investment in EV get-go-up Solid Power in the hopes of developing solid-state batteries for future electric cars. Information technology also announced a $185 one thousand thousand investment into a new battery lab, which is some other pace towards manufacturing its ain batteries.

More than: Ford Mustang Mach-E review: A very impressive electric debut

Tom is the Tom'south Guide's Automotive Editor, which means he tin unremarkably be found knee deep in stats the latest and best electric cars, or checking out some sort of driving gadget. Information technology'due south long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo Uk, when pretty much everything was on the table. He'southward unremarkably establish trying to squeeze some other behemothic Lego prepare onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining that Ikea won't let him buy the stuff he actually needs online.