New Ford electric vehicles could adopt Tesla technology

The Tesla Cybertruck’s unique electrical architecture could become more common in the car industry, after Ford confirmed it is working on a similar system.

A brief exchange on social media has revealed Ford could utilise technology debuted in a production car by electric-car giant Tesla for its future battery-powered vehicles.

In a post on social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – Ford’s global CEO Jim Farley confirmed he had received documents from Tesla CEO Elon Musk relating to how the US electric-car specialist integrated a 48-volt electrical system in its newest vehicle.

The new Tesla Cybertruck is the car-maker’s first model to move away from a traditional 12-volt system for its accessories, instead using a 48-volt architecture for functions such as its infotainment system, power windows and lights.

They weren't joking. We received the document today, dated Dec. 5th. Thanks, @ElonMusk. Great for the industry! https://t.co/DkLaHA84CY

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 7, 2023

Compared to a 12-volt architecture, a 48-volt system can save car-makers money by reducing the number of individual wires used to provide power to a vehicle’s accessories, with reduced weight becoming a by-product of the process.

However, as a majority of new-car parts suppliers have produced 12-volt systems since the 1960s, the transition to 48-volt won’t happen within a short period unless the wider industry gets behind it – leading Tesla to openly share its development documents with other car-makers.

It’s understood Ford was not the only car-maker which received the information from Tesla, though no other brands have been as openly willing to invest in the technology after the release of the Cybertruck.

Great to read the document and realize that our next-gen team has been on a similar path. Let’s work together to help the supply base move into the 48V future as well.

— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) December 7, 2023

After Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded to Farley’s acknowledgement of the documents, the Ford boss claimed the Blue Oval’s own research and development team had been “on a similar path”, before calling for common investments into the tech.

At present, Ford’s electric-car line-up features traditional 12-volt systems, and it is not yet known when the car-maker could transition to the 48-volt technology.

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