Ford Announces Its Commitment to Realizing Truly Modular Skateboard Electric Vehicles

      Ford, Adobe, edited by the author.

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      We are about 15 years into the era of practical electric vehicles. During much of this time, discussions have centered around the potential of the “skateboard” chassis—an electric vehicle can take on any form, simply by placing it atop a structural battery deck. However, thus far, no automaker has effectively capitalized on this to produce a wide variety of cars from a single platform. Ford, though, may be on the brink of changing that.

      This week, Ford revealed plans to revolutionize its car assembly process. The Blue Oval brand is not only looking to broaden its electric vehicle lineup but is also setting itself up to make them more affordable and varied. The announcement of a “$30,000 electric truck” captured the attention of car enthusiasts, but the Ford Universal EV Platform and Ford Universal EV Production System are of much greater significance for the industry.

      By constructing vehicles through three parallel methods—the skateboard chassis, the front, and the rear—Ford can theoretically manufacture a wide range of vehicles from trucks to sedans to sports cars and vans at the same site using the same structural base. While the company's objective is likely to reduce production costs and enhance profit margins, this also represents a significant opportunity for greater consumer choice.

      This was particularly intriguing to learn about since just a few months ago, Ford reportedly abandoned its next-generation zonal electrical architecture concepts for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and electric vehicles, opting instead to focus on enhancing existing systems.

      The company concluded that by incorporating some elements from its canceled FNV4 networked vehicle plans—such as module software and central control—into its current architecture, Ford believed it could still provide features like over-the-air updates without the high costs associated with developing an entirely new zonal infrastructure from ground zero.

      It seems a compromise has been reached, as a significant highlight from Ford’s announcement was its commitment to electric architecture. “For instance, the wiring harness in the new midsize truck will be more than 4,000 feet (1.3 kilometers) shorter and 10 kilograms lighter than that used in our first-generation electric SUV,” the press release states.

      If Ford can deliver on the promises of its Universal EV Production System, there’s a strong likelihood that the Ford Universal EV Platform will fulfill the vision of providing a highly diverse range of vehicles built on one skateboard. In essence, Ford might have identified the optimal zonal architecture solution for traditional automakers.

      Of course, platform sharing has always been a common practice. Many diverse gasoline vehicles are built on shared underpinnings. Ford is not the first to create various electric vehicles on a shared skateboard—the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform is an example that is already in production. Volkswagen also invested considerable resources into developing zonal architecture before ultimately opting to purchase it from Rivian.

      However, that's not why I believe Ford could outperform VW in this aspect. Despite frequently leading the industry in recalls and discontinuing its entire sedan and subcompact lineup, Ford knows how to inject fun into its products. Just look at the numerous Raptors, variants of the Mustang like the GTD, and the unique Tremor trims for both large and small work trucks. While Volkswagen tends to produce similar egg-shaped vehicles, I am hopeful Ford will take a bolder approach and offer a broader assortment of vehicle types from its new platform.

      Additionally, Ford has had more time to refine its strategies and enhance factory efficiency. During a media briefing call yesterday, Ford representatives emphasized the significant improvements in casting technology, enabling them to produce a greater variety of body types more rapidly.

      Although I have not been particularly optimistic about the future recently, if Ford can validate its claims of making electric cars both affordable and distinctive in the coming years, I would welcome that transformation within the industry.

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