Ford announced a $2 billion investment to accelerate its entry into the BESS energy storage systems market with the creation of the subsidiary Ford Energy.
According to the automaker, the new unit emerges after the termination of the joint venture with SK On and the strategic restructuring of the BlueOval SK Battery Park plant in the US state of Kentucky, which will cease producing batteries for electric vehicles and will instead manufacture LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries for energy storage.
The factory plant will be converted to produce advanced storage systems with a capacity of 5 MWh or more, as well as 20-foot DC modules and containers.
According to the entity, the new subsidiary will initially focus on large-scale storage systems, primarily intended for energy utilities, data centers, and industrial and commercial consumers.
According to the company, battery cells for residential applications will also be offered, expanding its presence in the distributed storage segment.
The expectation is that the new operation will be fully operational within 18 months, reaching an annual capacity of over 20 GWh by 2027.
Part of the production will also be concentrated at the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan complex, where smaller cells for residential solutions will be manufactured, in addition to LFP batteries intended for future electric vehicle models.
The new subsidiary will be led by Lisa Drake, who previously served as Vice President of Technology Platform Programs and Electric Vehicle Systems at Ford.
The executive will report directly to the company's vice president, John Lawler, and will be responsible for all of Ford Energy's operations, including cell manufacturing, systems assembly, business structuring, and sales.
According to Lawler, the executive's selection is directly related to her experience in industrialization and the management of critical supply chains.
“Lisa has deep experience in scaling complex industrial systems and securing strategic supply chains. Her leadership will be essential in structuring Ford Energy and meeting the growing demand for reliable energy storage solutions,” he stated.
According to the executive, the creation of Ford Energy will allow the company to maximize the value of its industrial capabilities in the battery segment.
“We are building a business focused primarily on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers, while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions,” Drake stated.
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