The American automaker Ford Motor Company officially announced the launch of “ Ford Energy ”, a new subsidiary focused on the battery energy storage systems (BESS) business, with plans to deploy at least 20 GWh of annual production capacity in the United States.
The company confirmed that the new unit will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford and will be focused on supplying energy storage solutions to utilities, data centers, and large industrial and commercial consumers within the U.S. market.
According to a statement released by the company, the project had been in preparation for about a year, during which time Ford made progress in supply chain agreements, adapting industrial plants and developing technology to meet the growing demand for energy storage in the country.
“Utilities and developers need storage systems they can finance, secure, and rely on for decades,” the company said, explaining the context behind its entry into the sector.
Ford Energy expects to make the first commercial deliveries towards the end of 2027.
Two configurations for utility-scale
The main product of the new unit will be the “Ford Energy DC Block”, a standardized storage system based on 512 Ah LFP prismatic batteries.
The company will initially offer two configurations:
- FE-250, designed for two-hour applications.
- FE-450, geared towards four-hour systems.
Both models incorporate liquid cooling technology, thermal management systems, and integrated BMS.
Ford emphasized that the systems were designed prioritizing parameters such as thermal stability, ease of maintenance, and predictable performance throughout the asset's lifespan, with an operational expectation of up to 20 years.
Production in Kentucky and adaptation to the IRA
To supply this business, Ford will repurpose existing industrial capacity in Glendale, Kentucky, where it will adapt infrastructure originally linked to the electric vehicle battery business.
The company's industrial strategy also aims to align with US regulatory requirements to access tax benefits linked to energy storage, particularly those related to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), local content criteria and material assistance requirements for utility-scale projects.
The decision to enter the BESS business comes against a backdrop of strong growth in storage demand in the United States, driven by data center expansion, renewable integration, and network resilience needs.
With this move, Ford Motor Company joins the trend of large industrial and automotive manufacturers seeking to position themselves in the energy storage value chain, a market that continues to accelerate investments and scale production capacities globally.
FES's next stops
The Future Energy Summit tour will continue with FES Guatemala on May 14 and FES Mexico on May 19, where key players from the public and private sectors will address the challenges and opportunities linked to the expansion of the energy system, new investment schemes and the execution of strategic projects.
To access the full FES 2026 tour schedule, learn more about it and be part of the meetings, the FES digital platform is available, while all events will have a live broadcast through the official Future Energy Summit YouTube channel.
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