Ford names Lisa Drake to lead new BESS manufacturing unit repurposing underutilised battery plants
By Eve
Ford Motor Company has appointed Lisa Drake as president of a new energy division announced in December, which will repurpose two underutilised battery plants in the United States to manufacture battery energy storage systems for commercial and residential use. The shift follows slower than expected adoption of fully battery powered electric vehicles and Ford's strategic pivot toward hybrids and internal combustion engine vehicles. The move redirects manufacturing capacity originally built during a period of optimistic EV adoption forecasts.
Why it matters
The repurposing of automotive battery manufacturing capacity into stationary storage production could increase BESS supply and potentially lower costs for commercial charging operators seeking on site energy storage. Ford's pivot also signals broader market recalibration that may affect future battery supply chains and pricing for EV infrastructure projects.
Source
- Original title
- “Ford Picks Leader for New BESS-Manufacturing Unit”
- Published
- 29 January 2026 (date approximate)
- Updated
- 22 September 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Grid & Energy
- Place
- United States
- Tag
- Ford
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