Ford appoints Lisa Drake as head of its new battery energy storage business

In December, Ford announced a strategic realignment of its electric vehicle business, which included the complete discontinuation of the already paused production of the F-150 Lightning and a $19.5 billion write-off. At the time, Jim Farley, President and CEO of Ford, also revealed the company’s plans to enter the market for batteries used in stationary applications within energy infrastructure and data centres.

Ford has now taken a significant step towards this goal by appointing Lisa Drake, a long-serving executive, as the head of Ford Energy. Drake has been with the company for over 30 years and most recently served as Vice President of Technology Platform Programs and EV Systems, where she oversaw the industrial plan for vehicle batteries and electric powertrain technology.

Drake will now lead Ford’s battery energy storage business. In her new role, she will be responsible for the entire value chain of Ford Energy, from battery cell manufacturing and system assembly to distribution.

“Lisa has deep expertise in scaling complex industrial systems and securing critical supply chains,” said John Lawler, Vice Chair of Ford. “Her leadership is essential as we stand up Ford Energy to capture the growing demand for reliable battery energy storage that supports grid stability and resilience for utilities and large energy users.”

Lisa Drake commented on her new role: “Ford Energy allows us to maximise the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities. We’re building a business focused first on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions.”

EV battery factory to be repurposed

As part of its realignment in December, Ford also announced plans to repurpose its existing battery production facility in Glendale, Kentucky, acquired from a joint venture with SK On, for the rapidly growing BESS market. This move aims to utilise the currently unused capacities for EV batteries to create a new, diversified, and profitable revenue stream for Ford. The company also plans to invest approximately $2 billion in expanding this business over the next two years.

The Kentucky site will be repurposed to produce large-scale battery energy storage systems with capacities exceeding 5 MWh. Ford plans to manufacture LFP prismatic cells, battery energy storage system modules, and 20-foot DC container systems at the facility. These products will target data centres, utilities, and large industrial and commercial customers. The first production capacities are expected to become operational within 18 months, with Ford aiming to install at least 20 GWh of BESS annually by the end of 2027.

ford.com (Lisa Drake), ford.com (plan announced in December)