American automobile manufacturing traces its humble roots back to a man named Henry Ford. It was Ford who introduced the assembly line, increasing productivity and efficiency in an attempt to make the automobile affordable to the average citizen.
Since the early 1900s, Ford Motor Company has been a pillar of American manufacturing, giving us the iconic Mustang and making the ubiquitous F-150 the country’s best-selling vehicle. Its blue oval logo is instantly recognizable and has identified millions of vehicles as “built Ford tough.”
That’s why it surprised some industry experts when Ford recently announced the launch of a brand new wholly owned subsidiary whose output will not be a vehicle. What prompted this new venture and how does it connect to Ford’s core business? Read on to learn more about Ford Energy, what it will produce, and how it will continue to increase demand for highly skilled workers with advanced electrical skills.
Ford Launches Energy Subsidiary
Ford Motor Company recently announced a new subsidiary, Ford Energy, that—as the name clearly points out—will focus on energy rather than automobiles. Before you jump to the conclusion that this represents an entirely new direction for Ford, it’s important to know that this new venture arose out of the company’s experiences with the nascent electric vehicle (EV) market.
According to an Automotive Manufacturing Solutions article, author Ilkhan Ozsevim notes that “[t]he manufacturing infrastructure underpinning Ford Energy is not being constructed from scratch. Ford is repurposing existing battery manufacturing capacity at its facility in Glendale, Kentucky, originally developed in the context of the company’s electric vehicle ambitions.”
Ford’s experience with the EV market can best be described as on-again, off-again. In response to EV demand that fell way short of Ford’s predictions, the company “reported a $19.5 billion charge in 2025.” Now, “[t]he Glendale facility, once oriented around EV battery production, is now being redirected towards grid-scale storage… targeting data centers and utilities.”
As a result, Ford Energy “will manufacture and sell United States-assembled battery energy storage systems [BESS] for utilities, data centers and large industrial and commercial customers across the country.” According to the new unit’s leader, Lisa Drake:
“Ford Energy allows us to maximize the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities. We’re 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.”
What Is a BESS?
Never heard of a BESS? Don’t worry. Many people haven’t. In fact, no one was talking about these systems even a few years ago. So what exactly is a BESS?
According to a Vertiv article, “[a] battery energy storage system (BESS) stores electricity for later use. In common practice, BESS may charge from the grid or other forms of local generation including wind, solar, generators, etc. Applications of BESS may include supporting off grid systems but also commonly are connected to the grid to provide increased stability and diverse grid support services.”
Why the sudden interest in BESS? It’s a simple case of supply and demand. As Vertiv notes, “[t]he increasing energy demand is outpacing the capabilities of traditional utilities, driven by industrial growth, urban expansion, and the exponential rise in high-performance computing (HPC) services like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).”
How does it work? Vertiv explains that “[a] typical BESS consists of battery cells arranged into modules and connected into larger cubes to achieve the desired direct-current (DC) voltage. The DC output from these strings is routed into a power conversion system (PCS). This system converts the power to an alternating current (AC), routed through transformers and switchgear for use by the facility or the grid.”
From a practical standpoint, a BESS provides a significant amount of stored energy for use on demand. For example, “BESS is pivotal for enhancing grid reliability and supporting renewable energy integration. They not only store excess energy for times of high demand but also provide backup power during outages, maintaining continuous operations.”
Grand Plans
According to Ozsevim, “[w]hat Ford Energy represents, in industrial terms, is a considered attempt to redirect manufacturing assets whose original purpose has been overtaken by market reality towards a new and arguably larger long-term opportunity.”
Rather than giving up on its EV battery manufacturing facility, Ford Energy will convert and expand its operations to “span full battery cell manufacturing, including the production of electrode coils, through to the assembly of modules and containers, and extend into sales and service support.”
For example, “[i]ts flagship product, the Ford Energy DC block, is a standardized 20-foot containerized battery energy storage system built around 512 Ah lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells.” The product also “incorporate[s] liquid-cooled thermal management and an integrated battery management system.”
Given the rapid build-out of AI data centers across the country, the continued growth of large-scale wind and solar projects, and the need for greater overall grid resiliency considering all of this growth, Ford Energy plans to grow aggressively, “targeting at least 20 GWh of annual output by late 2027.”
Ozsevim notes that “[t]he scale of its declared ambitions is striking. Ford Energy plans to deploy at least 20 GWh of storage capacity annually…To contextualize that figure, the United States is expected to add approximately 24 GW of new utility-scale battery storage in 2026 alone, nearly double the record set the previous year, with industry projections pointing to more than 600 GWh on the US grid by 2030.”
Training the Next Generation of Electrical Experts for Success
The missing link for Ford Energy and the other players in the EV, EV battery, and BESS marketplaces is the worker with advanced electrical skills able to step into a battery manufacturing facility and hit the ground running without burdensome additional training.
Electrical skills form the most fundamental skill set critical throughout these industries. How do companies and schools train the next generation of professionals with the electrical skills they need to succeed? A thorough review of training systems is a great place to start. Do employees and students have access to hands-on training with actual components they’ll encounter on the job?
If not, partnering with established companies to provide industrial-quality training systems that will stand the test of time will help ensure a competent workforce. For example, Amatrol offers the most complete range of electrical training systems to teach the entire array of critical skills that technicians and production personnel need to thrive in the modern workplace.
Amatrol also offers cutting-edge training systems designed specifically to teach the skills necessary for modern EV, EV battery, and BESS facilities. For more information, visit Amatrol online to learn more about its EV Manufacturing Program. You can also download Amatrol’s EV Manufacturing Program brochure.
In particular, Amatrol’s EV-Battery Technology Fundamentals Learning System (T7022) teaches basic knowledge and skills related to electric vehicle (EV) battery chemistry, construction, operation, safety, charging, and storage.
The system’s hands-on training workstation features a variety of real industrial EV battery system electrical components, including lithium-ion batteries, a smart charger/discharger, electrical circuit components, an individual cell smart charger, battery storage unit, and electrical measurement instruments.
The EV-Battery Technology Fundamentals Learning System includes Amatrol eLearning multimedia curriculum that begins with an introduction to EV systems and the basics of electrical circuits, voltage, current, and resistance before moving on to 29 hands-on skills related to EV battery types, operation, charging, testing, handling, and storage.
Users will learn important skills, such as measuring battery cell discharge current, adjusting charge controller settings, using a thermal camera to measure battery temperature, and using a smart charge controller to charge a battery pack.
Consult with an expert at Amatrol today to learn how you can take the first step toward teaching the electrical skills that will set learners up for success in the modern workplace.
About Duane Bolin
Duane Bolin is a former curriculum developer and education specialist. He is currently a Marketing Content Developer in the technical training solutions market.
