American legacy automaker Ford has just purchased electric vehicle power startup Auto Motive Power (AMP) to aid the company’s planned charging and battery technology advancement.
Acquisition details
AMP Chief Executive Anil Paryani proudly shared the acquisition in a LinkedIn post, saying that the company will now offer Ford all its energy management tech.
“Today I am super stoked to announce that AMP has been acquired by Ford Motor Company. Our talented team will start a new journey and integrate our energy management technologies into Ford’s winning EV portfolio. Lowering the cost of EV electronics and improving battery utilization has always been both of our company’s mission.”
AMP Chief Executive Anil Paryani
TechCrunch noted that the EV power startup will no longer operate as AMP after the purchase agreement with Ford.
Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg stated that the American automaker will tap into AMP’s talented employees, innovative technologies, and Santa Fe Springs facility in California.
However, Ford has not revealed the exact amount for the purchase of AMP.
About AMP
According to the InsideEVs, AMP has secured $26.5 million in funding since its launch in 2017. It had approximately 149 employees.
Remarkably, AMP previously boasted of having powered “most of the world’s top electric OEMs” without elaborating if Ford has already integrated its products into its currently available electric vehicles.
Since the announcement, AMP’s official website now displays the notice: “Ford acquired AMP on Nov 1, 2023.”
Notably, AMP had already provided battery management technologies such as “industry-leading software, hardware, and the cloud” to established electric automakers like Tesla and Faraday Future.
Some of AMP’s products include the popular Energy Management System (EMS), an “all-in-one” energy management system consisting of cloud, battery management, and charging solutions. This technology apparently enhances EVs’ efficiency, driving performance, and safety.
Benefits
Ford primarily aims to advance its electric vehicles’ charging and battery management technology as it aims to compete with industry leaders Tesla and BYD in the rapidly growing EV market.
Ford may be seeking to utilize AMP’s EMS to benefit from the technology’s benefits, including the following:
- reduced production cost
- enhanced range
- extended battery lifespan
- faster time-to-market
- thermal runaway risk reduction
- lower vehicle recall risk
Moreover, AMP was also known for its charging solutions, such as Tesla NACS-compatible on-board chargers and CCS software stack, among others.
Ford can also tap into AMP’s low to high-voltage electric vehicle battery management systems (24v to 1,000v).
The American automaker can also benefit from AMP’s Energy Management Unit (ampEMU). For context, it is an all-in-one DC-DC, On-Board Charger, and Power Distribution Unit that offers fast-charging capacities of 500A. Remarkably, this charging system supports various charging standards, such as NACS, CHAdeMO, and CCS.
More importantly, it can also enable Ford to access the company’s highly skilled team to aid its efforts in enhancing its charging and battery tech.
Ford’s decision to acquire AMP is indeed a strategic move that demonstrates the company’s commitment to staying relevant in the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry. Despite the recent electrification slowdown due to waning demand, Ford continues to advance its technologies to improve customer experience and overall EV ownership.
