On the Dash:
- Ford tapped Dave Carroll, a clean energy veteran, to lead Ford Energy starting Aug. 31.
- Lisa Drake, who built Ford Energy from launch, retires Dec. 31 after 32 years at Ford.
- Ford Energy targets 20 GWh of annual battery storage deployment, with deliveries starting late 2027.
Ford Motor Company named Dave Carroll president of Ford Energy, effective Aug. 31, succeeding Lisa Drake, who will retire from Ford at year-end after a 32-year career. Carroll will oversee Ford Energy’s full operations, including battery cell manufacturing, system assembly, commercial strategy and sales.
Carroll joins Ford from ENGIE North America, where he served as CEO and Chief Renewables Officer. He grew the company’s renewables operating assets by more than 12 times over six years and also chaired the American Clean Power Association’s board of directors. He previously held senior roles at EDF Renewables and Avangrid Renewables.
“Dave brings a rare, buy-side perspective on what utilities and other customers truly require as they build out power infrastructure – exactly the skill set and insight Ford Energy needs as we move from launch to scale,” Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said in a statement released by the company.
Notably, Ford launched Ford Energy in May to build U.S.-assembled battery energy storage systems for utilities, data centers and industrial customers. The subsidiary is repurposing existing battery manufacturing capacity in Glendale, Kentucky, and plans to deploy at least 20 gigawatt-hours annually, with first customer deliveries expected in late 2027. Its flagship product, the Ford Energy DC Block, is a standardized 20-foot containerized system built around lithium iron phosphate battery cells.
Outgoing president Lisa Drake was named Ford Energy’s inaugural president in January and built the business into commercial operations in under a year, including a five-year supply agreement with EDF Power Solutions North America signed in May. She will remain with Ford through Dec. 31, working with Carroll on a transition across manufacturing operations, customer commitments and supplier partnerships.
