Ford employees produce the electrical F-150 Lightning pickup on Dec. 13, 2022 on the automaker’s Ford Rouge Electrical Car Middle (REVC).
Michael Wayland | CNBC
DETROIT – A faulty battery that precipitated a Ford F-150 Lightning in the company’s possession to catch fire earlier this month is not the one downside the Detroit automaker has lately skilled with its new all-electric pickup truck.
On Jan. 27, every week earlier than the fireplace, the corporate issued a “customer support motion” for a small group of autos to have components changed to “forestall efficiency degradation” of the high-voltage battery. Ford Motor stated the issue solely affected about 100 autos to date and isn’t believed to be related to the Feb. 4 fireplace. Ford stated it’s monitoring the autos remotely and proactively contacting prospects when the corporate spots the issue.
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Regardless of the small variety of autos impacted, it provides to a sample of issues Ford and different automakers are having as they make investments billions in dashing electrical autos to market. Lots of the trade’s points have been minor. However after they contain the pricey, and sophisticated, batteries of the autos, monetary issues and severe security issues – particularly fires – can come up.
For Ford, the F-150 Lightning issues are a part of ongoing high quality and operational points, as outlined by CEO Jim Farley to traders days earlier than the fireplace occurred in a Ford holding yard.
“We now have deeply entrenched points in our industrial system which have confirmed powerful to root out,” he stated Feb. 2 throughout a fourth-quarter earnings call. “Candidly, the power of our merchandise and income has masked this dysfunctionality for a very long time. It is not an excuse, but it surely’s our actuality. And we’re coping with it urgently.”
Ford, which executives have stated was probably the most recalled automaker for the previous two years, is just not alone in having issues with its latest EV launches.
Toyota Motor final yr needed to recall its first mass-produced international EV due to a threat the wheels might come unfastened. General Motors two years in the past recalled all of its Chevrolet Bolt EV fashions on account of fireplace points. Others comparable to Hyundai, BMW and Volvo even have recalled electric vehicles, together with plug-in hybrids, on account of fireplace dangers in recent times.
To be clear, fireplace issues will not be unique to EVs, they’ve traditionally been issues for the auto trade and proceed to happen. Stellantis‘ Ram Vehicles this week introduced a recall of 340,000 giant diesel pickup vehicles to exchange {an electrical} connector after reports of six fires.
Ford’s Jan. 27 discover was issued for a battery module downside, which may first present a “wrench” warning on the sprint earlier than slowing down right into a restrained efficiency mode or, at worst, turning into motionless by not shifting into drive.
“This not a security recall. This can be a proactive investigation to assist forestall prospects of the recognized autos from experiencing a degradation in battery efficiency and to acquire subject components for analysis,” Ford spokesman Marty Gunsberg stated in an emailed assertion.
The quantity of “customer support actions” Ford has issued for the F-150 Lightning since its launch in April 2022 was not instantly obtainable.
Ford, as communicated to prospects, is changing “sure high-voltage battery module(s)” from the autos with new components freed from cost to reconcile the problem. The time wanted for the repair is sooner or later, based on data offered by a “CXS, Ford Concern Crew Battery Electrical Specialist” to a minimum of one buyer.
Relating to the problem that precipitated the fireplace and prompted Ford to halt manufacturing and shipments of the automobile early final week, Ford stated it’s unaware of any incidents or points related to autos already delivered to sellers or prospects.
Ford stated Wednesday it believes engineers have discovered the foundation explanation for the fireplace. The investigation into the issue is predicted to be accomplished by the top of subsequent week, adopted by changes to the truck’s battery manufacturing course of that “might take just a few weeks.”
The F-150 Lightning is being intently watched by traders, because it’s the primary mainstream electrical pickup truck available on the market and a significant launch for Ford. The corporate is within the strategy of practically doubling manufacturing capability of the automobile at a Michigan plant to 150,000 units by fall 2023.
Ford doesn’t launch manufacturing knowledge for the F-150 Lightning, nevertheless the corporate bought greater than 2,200 of the autos final month. In 2022, Ford reported sales of greater than 15,600 models of the automobile.
