Ford announced that construction had begun at its Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Kentucky, as reported by Teslarati. It is part of the American automaker’s joint venture deal with Korean energy and chemical company SK Innovation.
“BlueOval SK Battery Park will be at the core of the electrification of the North American auto market. We expect SK On and Ford’s leadership in the global electric vehicle market to be solidified through BlueOval SK.”
Jee Dong-seob, SK On President and CEO
The goal of the project
The project is anticipated to be crucial in helping the automaker reach its 2 million run rate target by 2026. Essentially, the battery manufacturing plants will equip Ford and Lincoln EVs with their innovative battery. According to the automaker, over 80-gigawatt hours may be generated yearly at the two enormous battery manufacturing facilities.
Apart from that, it is expected to generate 5,000 new job opportunities when production begins three years after construction. Notably, the new Elizabethtown Community and Technical College at the BlueOval SK Battery Park location will serve as their initial training ground.
“In order to produce these batteries, we need a premier workforce that is trained in the latest battery and advanced manufacturing technology.”
BlueOval SK CEO David Hahm
The ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center will start to be built in 2023, and construction is expected to be finished in 2024.
Progress
Ford assures that the 2.3-square-mile battery park is proceeding according to plan. Ford Media Center reported that the automaker had completed the following tasks on the property thus far:
- Moved 4.3 million cubic yards of soil, enough to fill 200 American football stadiums
- Laid 283,000 tons of stone, equivalent to the weight of nearly 1,350 locomotives
- Poured 66,000 cubic yards of concrete – enough to fill 356 backyard swimming pools
- Installed 3,300 tons of rebar ties to reinforce the concrete, equivalent to the weight of more than 470 elephants
- Installed 1,300 deep foundations, equal to the height of nearly 60 Empire State Buildings stacked end to end
- Erected 7,900 tons of structural steel, equivalent to the weight of almost 400 fire trucks
Remarkably, the automaker has strived to provide its services to clients. Furthermore, these initiatives will aid the US in reducing its reliance on foreign battery manufacturers. It will also hasten the adoption of electric vehicles in the country.
