Ford’s Universal EV Platform event left key unanswered questions, but the optimism was palpable
Yesterday I made the trip to Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant for its Universal EV Platform event. This plant, which opened in 1955, is currently configured to produce the Ford Escape and its cousin, the Lincoln Corsair. According to Ford, it’s scheduled to undergo dramatic changes in the near future.
The event had a distinctly blue-collar feel to it, with Ford executives making the announcement on a stage constructed in the middle of the plant, surrounded by hardworking hourly workers, media, local celebrities, and politicians. Ford President and CEO, Jim Farley – along with everyone else in attendance – braved the exceedingly warm conditions on the plant floor. There, he announced a radical new Universal EV Platform that would pave the way for electric vehicles that are estimated to start around $30,000.
“In our careers as automobile people, we’re lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two projects to really change the face of our industry, and I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here.”
Ford President and CEO JIM FARLEY
While it may have publicly marked the beginning of Ford’s so-called “Model T moment,” we learned that the program began several years earlier at an undisclosed location three time zones away. Ford’s California-based skunkworks team was tasked with the lofty goal of genuinely moving the company beyond its internal combustion roots, and was given the liberty and resources to do so uninhibited. Granted, Ford already produces EVs – the F-150 Lighting and the Mustang Mach-E to name two, but its new platform benefits from a conspicuous lack of corporate red tape, legacy weight, old-world thinking, and protectionism.
As far as an actual vehicle goes, those results are still to be determined. We didn’t get to see any new vehicle, although Ford did tease us with on-camera reactions from a handful of employees who got a brief in-person glimpse of its upcoming new truck.
We also did not learn about crucial elements like range, battery size, efficiency, or charging speed. Those who were banking on learning those details may have come away disappointed, but that’s not how I felt when the event was over given the atmosphere. There was a palpable buzz in the air once the event concluded, with media bum-rushing Ford CEO Jim Farley, who had nary the chance to wipe the sweat from his brow before being peppered with questions.
In the meantime, Ford used yesterday’s event to lay down the foundation of what’s to come. It came across as confident, but self-aware, acknowledging the high stakes involved.
Regardless of whether its bets pay off, I think we’ll look back at this event as a pivotal moment for the Detroit giant. The outcome will largely depend on how well leadership guides the company. It’s one thing to be nimble when you’re an actual startup, but it’s a whole other thing to adopt the mindset of a nimble startup when you’re a behemoth with a litany of moving parts and partners.
One thing is for certain – and it’s clear that Ford realizes this – its entire workforce needs to be fully on board for such a massive transition. This initiative isn’t a mere retooling of a plant to introduce a slightly redesigned version of a vehicle it already makes. This is a mountain-moving top-to-bottom redesign, not only for the final product, but for the way that final product is made.
“The automotive industry in America is at a cross roads … We saw this coming for years, we knew that the Chinese would be the major player for us globally, companies like BYD … they’re all coming for us legacy automotive companies.
Ford President and CEO JIM FARLEY
Ford executives were keen on acknowledging its workforce and how crucial they are to its success. The event, although big for the company as a whole, had a decidedly local feel. In Kentucky, basketball is king, so who else better to help usher in a new era than the athletic directors for the two biggest universities in the state, the Josh Heird for the University of Louisville, and the Mitch Barnhart for the University of Kentucky?
Louisville’s men’s basketball coach, Pat Kelsey, known for his energy, played hype man. Referring to Henry Ford’s famous “Any color the customer wants, as long as it’s black,” he even got in a dig about the UK-blue-painted Model T parked over his right shoulder.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear were also in attendance, with the 63rd governor of the Bluegrass State taking the stage to tout how many billions of dollars that Ford has invested in the area.
Ford Universal Electric Platform
“We’ve been waiting three years for this moment,” noted Farley, straining to contain his excitement, while invoking his best Steve Jobs impression. “In our careers as automobile people, we’re lucky if we get to work on one, maybe two projects to really change the face of our industry, and I believe today is going to light the match as one of those projects for all of us here.”
The first vehicle underpinned by the new platform will be a mid-sized truck built at the same, albeit highly transformed, and 52,000 square feet larger, Louisville Assembly Plant. Ford plans to roll the first models of the yet-to-be-named mid-sized pickup off the redesigned assembly line in 2027.
“We finally get to tell what we’ve been working on for three years behind closed doors. We call this the Ford Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. It represents the most radical change on how we design and how we build vehicles at Ford since the Model T.”
Noted Farley, “The automotive industry in America is at a crossroads… We saw this coming for years, we knew that the Chinese would be the major player for us globally, companies like BYD … they’re all coming for us legacy automotive companies. We needed a radical approach … to create an affordable vehicle that delights customers in every way that matters.”
Ford notes that the platform is founded on relentless efficiency, radical simplification, and flexibility. A vehicle assembled in a reimagined factory with bold design, more space, endless configurability, and an entirely new digital experience.
The Ford Universal EV Production System
Although Ford didn’t come up with the idea of the movable assembly line, the company is credited with improving and innovating the techniques over 100 years ago at its Highland Park, MI plant. Much of the same principals are still in use today. This production staple, too, will be completely transformed thanks to a new Universal EV Production System.
Instead of a singular movable line, the skunkworks team designed a new “assembly tree” featuring three sub-assemblies that run concurrently, and are thereafter joined together at the end. And in Tesla-like fashion, large single-piece castings will replace numerous smaller parts, enabling each end of the vehicle to be assembled separately. The result is a truck that can be assembled up to 40% faster than today’s Ford Escape.
Ford is also implementing a structural battery design, with a skateboard-esque battery platform with a low center of gravity. Prismatic LiFePO4 batteries will be sourced from within the United States, an industry first, thanks to the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan.
Ford notes that the new mid-sized truck will feature more interior space than the Toyota RAV4, currently the best-selling vehicle in the United States. “But it will have a frunk,” quipped Farley. “And it will have a whole pickup truck bed behind it. No one has seen this kind of flexibility.”
The most interesting part of the presentation came from Chief EV Digital and Design Officer, Doug Field, who discussed some of the initiative’s high-level technical details.
One of the benefits that was drilled home several times during the presentation was a significant improvement to ergonomics during the assembly process. For an audience consisting of many factory workers, this was met with applause.
Alongside dramatically reducing the amount of parts, electrical wiring, and hoses, the updated production system will reduce the need for workers to twist, bend, and reach, increasing ergonomics, and reducing potential injury and soreness after a day’s work. Say what you will, but Ford knew their audience, and catered well to it.
Electrek’s Take
If it had gone into its electric vehicle production with this plan back in 2019, when the Mach-E was announced, Ford would probably be in a better position today to compete globally. It’s been working on these new initiatives for the past three years, so that means there was roughly a three-year delta between the Mach-E’s announcement and the realization that it needed a dramatically new approach. Will the time lost come back to bite them? Time will tell, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
As someone born and raised in Louisville, it gives me a unique perspective on the gravity of this announcement. The Louisville Assembly Plant, alongside the Kentucky Truck Plant, roughly a 30-minute drive to the northeast, are both community linchpins. A number of friends of mine who work at the plant have expressed genuine excitement and optimism over the announcements.
Skeptics may lament the fact that key details about the programs remain unanswered, namely key areas like range, charging speed, and efficiency, and that’s a fair critique. But given the dramatic changes set to take place at the Louisville Assembly Plant, it was necessary for Ford to outline these key details beforehand.
The bigger question is whether or not Ford will be able to meet the $30,000 price point given the various economic uncertainties prevalent today. Another key area that younger companies like Tesla and Rivian have going for them is the direct-to-customer model. Will Ford look for ways to innovate in that space as well?
What are your thoughts about yesterday’s announcements? Sound off down below in the comments with your thoughts.
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The US solar industry put nearly 18 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity on the grid in the first half of 2025. Even as the Trump administration rolled out anti-clean energy policies, solar and storage still made up 82% of all new power added to the grid in the first six months of the year. But the growth picture isn’t as sunny as it looks, according to the SEIA.
Trump’s big bill (HR1) and new administration actions targeting solar have dragged down deployment forecasts. The latest US Solar Market Insight Q3 2025 report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie warns that these policies could cut 44 GW of US solar growth by 2030 – an 18% decline. Compared with pre-HR1 forecasts, that’s a total loss of 55 GW, or 21% fewer solar projects by 2030.
“Solar and storage are the backbone of America’s energy future, delivering the majority of new power to the grid at the lowest cost to families and businesses,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper. She added that the administration is “deliberately stifling investment, which is raising energy costs for families and businesses, and jeopardizing the reliability of our electric grid.” Still, Hopper stressed that demand will keep the industry growing because “the market is demanding what we’re delivering: reliable, affordable, American-made energy.”
Ironically, the report found that this year, 77% of new solar capacity has been built in states Trump won. Eight of the top 10 states for new installations — Texas, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, and Arkansas — all went red in 2024.
On the manufacturing side, the US added 13 GW of new solar module capacity in the first half of the year, with factories ramping up in Texas, Indiana, and Minnesota. That brings total domestic capacity to 55 GW. But momentum stalled in Q2, with no new upstream manufacturing investment as federal policy uncertainty spooked private capital.
Looking ahead, SEIA and Wood Mackenzie expect solar deployment to land 4% lower than pre-HR1 projections by 2030. Near-term solar growth is buoyed by projects already underway, developers racing against tax credit deadlines, and surging electricity demand as new gas generation becomes pricier and less reliable.
The report also highlights the risk of federal permitting changes. A Department of the Interior order throws up obstructions for solar permits, threatening about 44 GW of planned projects. Arizona, California, and Nevada are expected to be hit hardest.
“There is considerable downside risk for the solar industry if the federal permitting environment creates more constraints for solar projects,” said Michelle Davis, head of solar research at Wood Mackenzie. “The solar industry is already navigating dramatic policy changes as a result of HR1. Further uncertainty from federal policy actions is making the business environment incredibly challenging.”
SEIA has urged Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse course, warning that the administration’s approach could mean lost jobs, higher power bills, and a weaker US economy.
The stakes stretch beyond energy: SEIA notes that if solar growth stalls as projected, the Trump administration will blow its chances at winning the global AI race – something it’s keen to do. Last week, the trade group rolled out a grid reliability policy agenda calling on leaders at all levels of government to shore up the grid with solar and storage to meet surging demand.
Read more: FERC: Solar + wind made up 91% of new US power generating capacity in H1 2025
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Inflation is back, with prices rising 2.7% compared to last year (and that doesn’t include food, fuel, or rent, which are up even more), which is objectively bad. But it’s not true that everything is getting more expensive. These inflation-busting EVs are heading into 2026 with prices that are lower than they were in 2025!
There’s plenty of reasons for prices to go up or down in a market – everything from tariffs and taxes and increased domestic production to changes in inflation or even just a manufacturerwillingness to take a smaller profit on per-unit sales in order to drive volume. There’s a little bit of all of that happening in the American EV market this year, especially in the face of the expiring Federal EV tax credit that kind of makes most EVs cost $7,500 more than they would have otherwise.
That said, as I was putting this list together, I realized there were plenty of ways for me to present these MY26 price cuts. “Best deals?” Too opinion-based. “Biggest discounts by percentage?” Too much math. In the end, I went with alphabetical order, by make. Enjoy!
Cadillac OPTIQ
Cadillac is the industry’s luxury EV leader these days – and for good reason. Its electric crossovers are good-looking, have long range, great acceleration, and ultra-fast charging. Heck, they can even power your home in a pinch.
Even so, the powers that be at GM are worried about how their EV sales will fare in an American without a $7,500 Federal EV tax credit, so they’re offering a rear-wheel-drive version of the OPTIQ crossover with 300 miles of range for the 2026 model year with a starting price that’s nearly $2,000 lower than the least-expensive 2025.
Chevy Silverado EV
Chevy is crushing it right now. After setting EV range records and surpassing Ford in EV sales this semmer, Chevy is now the fastest-growing domestic EV brand in the US – and they’re seemingly intent on keeping that momentum into 2026 with a more affordable WT trim level that starts at $54,895, compared to $57,095 for the ’25 WT Standard Range.
The financial picture is looking rosier at the top of the Silverado EV model range, too. The range-topping model for 2026 is the $88,695 Trail Boss, while the $97,895 RST Max Range topped the 2025 lineup.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Despite being objectively capable, technologically-advanced, and supremely luxurious long-range electric vehicles, the Mercedes EQS and EQS SUVs were saddled with a somewhat anonymous, jellybean-like styling language that’s seen the flagship EVs struggle to find a foothold in the ultra-luxury segment they inhabit.
To that end, Mercedes kicked off its 2025 with big discounts on its in-stock EQS and EQS SUVs, and is responding to lower-than-expected market demand by reducing the cars’ MSRPs. In the case of the EQS SUV, by an inflation-busting $15,000 (!).
Toyota bZ
For 2026, Toyota has axed the bZ4X name and added a raft of both functional and cosmetic improvements to its five-passenger electric crossover, including body color fenders, up to 25% more range, and – thanks to a new thermal management system and battery preconditioning – a bigger battery that can charge from 10-80% capacity in about thirty minutes.
Even with those upgrades, the new and improved 2026 Toyota bZ is cheaper than the outgoing bZ4X, starting at $34,900 – or $2,170 less than the outgoing model.
Disclaimer: the prices above were sourced from CarsDirect, Motor1, and a number OEM websites. All offers were current as of 07SEP2025, and all links provided are from trusted affiliates. These prices may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.
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Sennebogen’s new 824 G Electro Battery material handler is being put through its paces at a recycling site in Munich’s Aubing district. And, thanks to its innovative grid-connected/battery system, it never has to stop to recharge!
With its emphasis on the recycling of stainless steel, ferroalloys, and superalloys, CRONIMET Alpha’s recycling operations are loud, and adding the ceaseless drone of diesel engines straining against the mass of all that metal as it’s sorted and fed into bailing presses. That’s why the company was so excited to test out Sennebogen’s new, all-electric 824 G Electro Battery material handler during an extensive trial at its Munich site.
So far, CRONIMET’s operators have been impressed with the new Sennebogen. “The battery-powered machine drives just like a diesel-powered one,” explains equipment operator Zoran Alexsic. “You don’t notice any difference in power – only that everything runs much more smoothly and quietly … you don’t have to take breaks to escape the noise.”
Quiet, but powerful
The Sennebogen 824 G comes standard with a 98 kWh battery, but operators can install up to four modular packs for a total of 392 kWh and roughly eight hours of runtime. Even with a single pack—good for 1.5 to 3 hours—the machine can keep CRONIMET’s operations running almost nonstop, thanks to its built-in dual power mode.
Sennebogen’s dual power mode enables the 824 G to run on battery while drawing power from the grid at the same time. When connected to grid power, the machine can recharge its batteries as it works, eliminating the downtime other BEVs need for charging and giving operators the freedom to reposition the machine on battery power, then plug back in when convenient.
Beyond flexibility, the electric handler is also cleaner, quieter, and more cost-effective than the diesel models it’s designed to replace. By seamlessly cycling between battery and grid power, it reduces both noise on the job site and energy costs during peak hours.
Electrek’s Take
We’ve seen grid-connected equipment assets like this before, and with good reason. Simply put, it takes many more kilowatts of energy to dig up tons and tons of dirt and rocks than it does to send an aerodynamically smoothed sedan down a road. That’s why you still see a push towards hydrogen and other energy-dense fuels in construction – but permanently grid connected assets, whether wired or inductive, could solve for some of the limitations of batteries on job sites that can support them.
If the 824 G Electro Battery is a commercial success, expect Sennebogen to roll out more grid-connected options in the years to come.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Sennebogen.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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