Ford EV Partnership With Solid Power Extended Through 2025

In recent years, Ford has invested heavily in a company called Solid Power, a solid-state battery manufacturer. Many believe that solid-state batteries – which don’t use the liquid electrolyte found in conventional lithium-ion batteries, can be lighter, offer greater energy density, and provide more range at a lower cost – are critical to the future development of all-electric vehicles, even if the technology isn’t viable for automotive use just yet. Ford clearly still feels that way, as it just extended its relationship with that company, too.

According to Investing.com, Solid Power has amended its joint development agreement with Ford – first established in 2018 – which effectively extends that partnership through the end of 2025. The amendment includes some revisions in regard to the timing of the delivery of solid state batteries to Ford, as well as select deliverables, reflecting the third time this agreement has been revamped.

The specifics of the amendment aren’t currently available, but it does reveal that Ford remains confident in Solar Power’s ability to one day churn out production-ready solid-state batteries, regardless. The company also received financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of its $42 million dollar Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program last year.

Solid state batteries offer up a handful of benefits compared to existing lithium-ion units, particularly in terms of energy density. This means that automakers would be able to use fewer batteries to achieve the same sort of range figures current EVs offer, all in a smaller, lighter, and more affordable package. Earlier this year, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated that he was “excited about the potential” of solid-state batteries. The testing process for this technology is long and extensive, however, largely due to the fact that it’s very much new, while lithium-ion batteries have been around for a very long time – not only in automobiles, but also, various other types of consumer products. Regardless, many – including Farley – remain very optimistic about their future, regardless.