Ford names Lisa Drake president of new Ford Energy unit

On the Dash:

• Ford appointed Lisa Drake to lead its newly launched Ford Energy battery storage business.
• The automaker is repurposing battery plants toward stationary energy storage after scaling back EV investments.
• Ford Energy will focus first on utility-scale systems while also supplying residential storage solutions.

Ford Motor Co. has named longtime executive Lisa Drake as president of Ford Energy, marking a formal launch of the automaker’s battery energy storage systems business.

The announcement, made Tuesday, comes as the automaker pivots away from slower-than-expected electric vehicle demand and looks to repurpose its battery manufacturing footprint for stationary energy storage. Ford Energy will focus initially on utility-scale battery storage systems for large customers, while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage applications.

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Drake previously served as vice president of technology platform programs and electric vehicle systems. In that role, she led Ford’s industrial strategy for batteries and electric propulsion engineering. Her experience in manufacturing, industrialization, and purchasing is expected to guide the development of the new business unit.

Drake will report to Vice Chair John Lawler and oversee battery cell manufacturing, system assembly, sales, and the Ford Energy leadership team. The automaker said the move positions the company to meet growing demand for grid stability and energy resilience among utilities and large energy users.

The leadership appointment follows Ford’s decision last month to dissolve its joint venture with South Korea-based SK On Ltd. As part of that shift, Ford retained ownership of the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, Kentucky. The change was included in Ford’s $19.5 billion pullback from electric vehicle investments, driven by softer consumer demand.

Instead of producing EV batteries at the Kentucky facility, the company plans to manufacture lithium iron phosphate batteries for stationary energy storage applications. LFP chemistry has gained traction for grid-scale storage due to its lower cost and durability compared with other battery types.

The company has said Ford Energy will enable it to maximize the value of its battery manufacturing assets while diversifying revenue beyond vehicle sales. The move aligns with the broader industry trend as automakers reassess EV timelines and seek alternative uses for large-scale battery investments.