What specifically makes the hybrids more difficult to manufacture?

[bluemaverick]

Is it the battery? The inverter? Something else? Is it the raw materials to make a part?

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[Mavman321]

Battery, CVT, and a much lower profit margin for Ford, especially the 2022s since they were 1k cheaper than Ecoboost

 

[Shay]

Not much actually. Ford builds their own batteries, they have 100% and complete control over the supply of that. Ford builds their own ecvt and it's actually a much simpler and less expensive build than an 8 speed automatic transmission. The constraint is the fact that Ford only planned to build a 35% mix by virtue of their business plan, and had not ramped anything up for supplying production beyond that.

 

[bluemaverick]

Battery, CVT, and a much lower profit margin for Ford, especially the 2022s since they were 1k cheaper than Ecoboost

I doubt it is because of the eCVT. The hybrid transmission has less parts than the 8speed transmission.

 

[RockCity]

Ford builds their own batteries, they have 100% and complete control over the supply of that.

Where is the Ford lithium mine located?

 

[commadorebob]

And the global lithium shortage.

I think it also comes down to history. Small trucks went away because no one bought them. Ford made fewer hybrid variants of their other models because no one bought them. So, what evidence did they have that anyone would want a hybrid small truck?

By the time Ford had evidence to the contrary, it was too late. Supply contracts had been signed. At best, 2024 is when Ford adjusts the hybrid/EB ratio.

 

[Last Truck Ever]

My optimistic take on this is that Ford realized majority of 23 orders were for hybrid, they lean on suppliers with drop dead get us stuff date of like March 1, hit pause on ALL hybrid orders and go balls to the wall between now and March cranking out EB's, then hit the hybrids just as hard come Spring. I'm no more impressed than anyone else by Ford's lack of insight into gas prices=hybrid orders, but even Ford has the ability to take in those 87k orders in a couple of days and realize they gotta put up or shut up. I see the December punting of hybrids as part of that plan, until someone shows me otherwise.

Still.... Would go a very long way for Ford's damaged reputation to ANNOUNCE a plan for getting all these hybrids built.

 

[Milqueman]

Not much actually. Ford builds their own batteries, they have 100% and complete control over the supply of that. Four builds their own ecvt and it's actually a much simpler and less expensive build than an 8 speed automatic transmission. The constraint is the fact that Ford only planned to build a 35% mix by virtue of their business plan, and had not ramped anything up for supplying production beyond that.

I agree with you that ford builds their own batteries and that the ECVT is simpler to produce, but I believe the planned 35% production of Hybrids stems from their ability to get the raw materials to produce the batteries, and not from some arbitrary self imposed constraint. There is a huge supply issue in getting the raw materials needed to produce the batteries and this is effecting all auto manufactures as well as every industry that uses batteries. This is a much broader issue then just Ford saying they will only build 35% hybrids. Batteries need Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite and Nickle. Currently Lithium and now Graphite are experiencing huge shortage constraints. Below are only 2 articles out of hundreds that have reported on this, found after a quick google search:

https://www.techdirt.com/2022/04/21...r-innovative-threat-to-electric-vehicle-push/

https://www.utilitydive.com/news/graphite-shortage-ev-electric-vehicles-supply-chain/628371/

 

[Mavman321]

Not much actually. Ford builds their own batteries, they have 100% and complete control over the supply of that. Four builds their own ecvt and it's actually a much simpler and less expensive build than an 8 speed automatic transmission. The constraint is the fact that Ford only planned to build a 35% mix by virtue of their business plan, and had not ramped anything up for supplying production beyond that.

Ford does not build their own maverick batteries or CVTs. Most automakers nowadays really only assemble vehicles from parts made by hundreds of suppliers around the world. This is why everyone is always yelling about "supply chain issues".

Automakers rely on reliable production of thousands of parts from hundreds of manufacturers. Gone are the days where raw material entered a factory and a completed vehicle rolled out the other side

 

[Platinum2]

Where is the Ford lithium mine located?

In China, duh!

 

[Rivers90]

The electric motors need magnets that have neodymium. This comes from china mostly and there is a global shortage.

Shortage of other parts too.

 

[LSchicago]

Where is the Ford lithium mine located?

Who said Ford owns a Lithium mine?

 

[Darnon]

Ford does not build their own maverick batteries or CVTs.

At least insofar as the CVT Ford produces that almost entirely in-house at the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center. The electric motor assembly (not sure if just the rotor or also the windings) used to be produced by Toshiba, but with the Maverick those are produced by Ford directly as well.

A considerable factor is probably in all of the ICs used for the electronics. The DC-DC converter, the motor controller, the battery pack itself are all loaded with control electronics.

For instance here's a reassembly of the Fusion Hybrid's motor control assembly. Multiple different sub assemblies covered with chips/components.

 

[MichaelG]

Ford does not build their own maverick batteries or CVTs. Most automakers nowadays really only assemble vehicles from parts made by hundreds of suppliers around the world. This is why everyone is always yelling about "supply chain issues".

Automakers rely on reliable production of thousands of parts from hundreds of manufacturers. Gone are the days where raw material entered a factory and a completed vehicle rolled out the other side

The Maverick battery is made in Michigan by Ford Link

 

[jsus]

Ford does not build their own maverick batteries or CVTs. Most automakers nowadays really only assemble vehicles from parts made by hundreds of suppliers around the world. This is why everyone is always yelling about "supply chain issues".

Automakers rely on reliable production of thousands of parts from hundreds of manufacturers. Gone are the days where raw material entered a factory and a completed vehicle rolled out the other side

Oh yeah? So Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center is just for show? A myth?

https://www.designnews.com/automoti...se-maverick-hybrid-e-motor-20-percent-lighter

https://corporate.ford.com/operations/locations/global-plants/van-dyke-transmission-plant.html

Rawsonville Components hasn't been building FHEV and PHEV batteries for a decade?

https://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/10/report-ford-to-build-battery-packs-in-ypsilanti-mi/

https://corporate.ford.com/operations/locations/global-plants/rawsonville-components-plant.html

Chihuahua Engine Plant doesn't build the 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle Duratec 25 engine?

https://corporate.ford.com/operations/locations/global-plants/chihuahua-engine-plant.html

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