Ford has announced that Lisa Drake has been appointed as President of its new energy division, Ford Energy, where she'll lead the launch of a new battery energy storage systems (BESS) business.
This move follows Ford's announcement in December 2025 to start the BESS business after facing a USD 19.5 billion charge and restructuring its electric vehicle plans due to lower-than-expected demand.
The new BESS business will make use of Ford's existing battery manufacturing capacity in the U.S., focusing on the growing need for battery storage in data centers and to support the electric grid. Ford plans to invest about USD 2 billion over the next two years to expand this business, with the first products expected by mid-2027, and a goal to produce at least 20 GWh annually by the end of 2027.
Lisa Drake, who has worked at Ford for over 30 years, most recently as VP for EV and battery engineering, will now oversee everything related to Ford Energy, including battery production, system assembly, sales, and building the leadership team for the new business.
Executive Statement
According to Lisa Drake as President of its new energy products and solutions unit, Ford Energy, Ford Energy allows us to maximize the value of their battery manufacturing capabilities. They are 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.