Ford this week formally introduced Ford Energy, a new wholly owned subsidiary that will provide U.S.-assembled battery energy storage systems (BESS) for utilities, data centers and large industrial and commercial customers in the United States.
To support the new venture, Ford is repurposing its existing U.S. battery manufacturing capacity in Glendale, Kentucky.
"Our manufacturing and supply chain strategy is designed to support a changing regulatory environment for battery energy storage. It aligns with Investment Tax Credit requirements. It also meets material assistance and domestic content standards relevant to grid-scale storage," the company said.
The automaker said its new venture plans to deploy at least 20 GWh annually, with first customer deliveries planned for late 2027.
Ford Energy’s operations span full battery cell manufacturing – including production of electrode coils – and assembly of modules and containers, plus sales and service support. Its flagship product – the Ford Energy DC block – is a standardized 20-foot containerized battery energy storage system designed around 512 Ah LFP prismatic cells. The company will offer two configurations: the FE-250 (two-hour system) and the FE-450 (a four-hour system). Both integrate advanced LFP prismatic battery technology, liquid-cooled thermal management and battery management system.
"We designed the DC block for the metrics that matter most to customers: predictable lifetime performance, ease of service and thermal stability — designed for 20-year performance, from a 122-year-old company," the company said.
Ford Energy is launching to address accelerating U.S. demand for dispatchable, bankable energy storage, according to the company, which said the convergence of data center growth, renewable energy integration, and grid resilience requirements has created a gap in the market.
"Utilities and developers need storage systems they can finance, insure and depend on for decades. They need suppliers who will be there in year 10 to honor a warranty claim," the company said. "That is the gap Ford Energy is built to fill. Ford Motor Company has manufactured at industrial scale for more than a century, and we’re excited to bring this immense capability to energy storage."
