Ford Motor Co. halted the production of its F-150 for another week as it focuses on resolving the vehicle fire issues caused by a faulty battery. According to a spokeswoman for Ford, the fire started during a pre-quality check of the stock on February 4. The blaze, which started in one of the Ford holding lots, also engulfed two other trucks.
According to the latest breaking headlines on US news websites, Ford will stall the production of its Lightning vehicle for another week. In a communique released on Friday by Ford, the spokeswoman said F-150 trucks already in the hands of customers are not affected by the recent issue. The company is monitoring the data of its vehicles already in the field and ensuring that they are working satisfactorily.
SK on suggested changes to processes to prevent fire
The automaker, based in Dearborn, Michigan, stated that SK On, a battery vendor for this vehicle, has already suggested changes to the processes and equipment, which will take some time to implement. According to the spokeswoman, Ford has already agreed to these changes.
The battery manufacturer, which is part of SK Innovation Co., based in South Korea, identified the cause of the fire and resumed battery production. It is incorporating changes to address this issue. According to a release from SK On on Friday, it is a rare occurrence, and there is no issue with its manufacturing systems or the technology associated with the battery cells.
The F-150 went into production last spring
Ford began production of its Lightning trucks at its Dearborn plant last spring. To satisfy consumer demand, the company is increasing production continuously. Lightning trucks are powered by batteries and destined for use in the US. The company also manufactures the Transit cargo van’s electric version, the Mustang Mach-E SUV. According to the latest information, Ford sold 15,600 lighting trucks in the past year.
Ford to lose $120 million in profits
According to analysts at Evercore ISI, a research firm, halting the production of the popular F-150 for a month will cost Ford up to $120 million in terms of operating profits, with an estimated margin of $15,000 for each EV.
According to an incident, three EV pickups in the lot were plugged in and charging when the fire broke out on Friday, and the fire department was called by an employee of Ford. One officer at Ford made an unsuccessful attempt to shut down power at a nearby panel.
According to the latest BNN world news, the fire department put out the fire on the first two trucks. However, the battery in the third truck also started burning, which could be extinguishable. Ford moved other trucks in the lot to another location to prevent such fire hazards in the future. The company also contacted a fire captain, who is an expert in EV technology, for advice on how to handle the fire.
The security at Ford was instructed by the Fire Department to water down the trucks every 15 minutes to prevent fire hazards. It also instructed the company to post a person throughout the night if it noticed visible flames.
