Monday, October 14, 2013

Ford Teams Up With University of Michigan to Open New Battery Lab

Ford Teams Up With University of Michigan to Open New Battery Lab
BRIGHTON, Mich. - New plans for an $8 million facility have been announced as Ford teams up with the University of Michigan to open a new battery lab. This lab will receive funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Ford Motor Company and the University of Michigan College of Engineering and is being created with the intention to make electric vehicle batteries that will be cheaper to produce and longer-lasting.

As of right now, electric vehicle and hybrid sales account for a very small percentage of the total U.S. vehicle sales. This is because of the fact that electric and hybrid vehicles sometimes come with a heftier price tag, due to that fact that it is expensive to produce the batteries that run these vehicles. Because of the materials used to create these engines, thousands of dollars get tacked on to the hybrid/electric vehicle price tag, which in turn, sways customers away from these truly amazing vehicles.

By creating this new battery lab in Ann Arbor, MI, Ford is hoping to severely cut production costs, and therefore, reduce the price of its hybrid/electric vehicles. Automakers, battery makers, and battery cell researchers will be able to come together at this lab and work together to find a way to create electric vehicle batteries that saves time and money, while also creating a battery that is more efficient.

Expected to be open next fall, this lab is currently one of a kind in the automotive industry. The way battery production currently works, battery suppliers/producers will create a battery that they believe carmakers will want to use. They then sell these batteries to the carmakers who in turn test them at their own facilities. This lab will allow for testing prior to the battery cell production process, which saves time and money for everyone involved.

Ford is teaming up with the University of Michigan to open a new battery lab which means that more efficient, less expensive hybrid/electric vehicles are in your future. However, if you'd like to check out our current selection of hybrid and electric vehicles, stop by our Commerce Township Area Ford Dealership today! We have a great selection of New Ford Cars, New Ford Trucks and Certified Preowned Cars For Sale. So stop by and let us help you into a vehicle you'll love! Brighton Ford is located at 8240 Grand River Ave. just north of I-96 in Brighton. We are a family owned and operated business that strives for customer satisfaction. For more information on Brighton Ford visit BrightonFord.com or give us a call at (800) 836-8206.



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