Ford and SK Innovation have inked a new memorandum of understanding for a joint venture to produce battery cells and arrays, Kallanish reports. 

The JV, dubbed BlueOvalSK, plans to install 60 gigawatt-hours of battery production beginning “mid-decade.” 

“Through the JV, Ford and SKI will jointly develop and industrialise battery cells at scale that are tailored to deliver optimum performance and value for our Ford and Lincoln customers,” says Ford North America chief operating officer Lisa Drake. “SKI is an important partner in helping deliver batteries with better range and value for our fully electric vehicles by mid-decade.”

Ford expects its power needs to reach 140GWh in North America and 240 GWh globally by 2030. 

“Global automakers have praised SK Innovations’ EV batteries for their safety, high capacity and long life,” says SKI battery business head Jee Dong-seob. “SK Innovation will be supplying batteries for the fully electric version of Ford’s legendary and best-selling F-150 pickup truck. We are thrilled to be supporting the electrification of a vehicle that represents the very best of American automaking.”

Ford outlined its electrification timeline in a separate release, slating production of the F-150 for spring 2022.