Ford: Work is on schedule for Kentucky EV battery plants
HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) -The BlueOval SK Battery Park is a key component of Ford’s plan to increase the production of electric vehicles in the state of Kentucky.
$5.8 billion dollars has been invested to produce advanced batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles through a joint venture with ford and SK On.
Monday Ford and SK leaders say they have made significant progress in the construction of the new Battery Park in Hardin County.
“BlueOval SK Battery Park is a huge step forward for Ford and for the industry so while the other guys are dreaming about the future, we are already delivering it” said Ford’s Director of Manufacturing for EV Programs, Dave Nowicki.
The progress includes hauling in enough soil to fill 200 football stadiums, thousands of cubic yards of concrete poured, and nearly 8,000 tons of structural steel erected, just to name some of the work done.
BlueOval SK leaders say over the next two years the park will become the global hub for electric vehicle batteries.
“By utilizing SK On’s battery technology BlueOval SK will help Ford reach its goal of producing an annual run rate of 2 million electric vehicles globally by late 2026,” said BlueOval SK CEO, David Hahm.
Governor Beshear called it the biggest economic project the state has ever seen.
“Together Ford and SK are ensuring Kentucky is where it should be, in the driver’s seat and together we will lead this growing industry far into the future,” said Gov. Beshear.
The Battery Park will also create 5,000 new jobs, training new workers at the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College BlueOval SK training center which will be built on-site at the battery park.
“We intend for that workforce to come from central Kentucky and we’re developing training to be delivered to them right here on this site,” said Ford’s Global Director of Workforce Development, Liliana Ramirez.
Officials say the training center is unique.
“The ECTC BlueOval training center is the only co-branded learning facility in Kentucky and it is possible by the $25 million dollar investment by the Commonwealth of Kentucky” added Ramirez.
Construction for the training center is expected to start next year and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Ford and a partner company have broken ground in Kentucky on a massive venture that will create 5,000 jobs to produce batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles.
The companies said Monday that construction is on schedule.
Production is scheduled to start in 2025 at the two battery manufacturing plants being built in Glendale, Kentucky.
Ford and SK On have invested $5.8 billion in the venture – known as BlueOval SK.
It ranks as Kentucky’s single largest-ever economic development project.
SK On is a South Korean electric vehicle battery developer and manufacturer.
