Part 12/17:
Batteries are identified as the main bottleneck in EV scaling. Ford sources lithium and nickel from around the world but recognizes the necessity of localizing supply chains—mining, processing, and manufacturing batteries domestically within North America. This shift is both strategic and geopolitical, especially given current tensions with China and the critical nature of raw materials.
The automaker plans to secure raw materials for 2 million batteries by 2026 and is already working toward establishing onshore processing facilities. The importance of such localization isn't merely logistical; it has significant policy implications, with US tariffs and tax credits playing influential roles.