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    Convergent Li-Ion Battery system helping decarbonize, cut costs at Ford Engine Plant in Canada

    Nov. 1, 2022
    The array helps support Ford’s electricity needs with a 4-MW/8-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) already in operation. The energy storage helps decarbonize and defray utility costs during peak demand periods
    Image credit Convergent Energy and Power
    Ford 2 63613b02a515a

    Ford Motor Co. has strengthened its commitment to electric vehicle production over the past year, separating its EV division from the internal combustion side and also announcing moves to expand its battery cell supply chain.

    The historic automaker is even using the same technology often used in EV batteries to help decarbonize its assembly plant operations in Ontario, Canada.

    Energy storage supplier Convergent Energy and Power has deployed lithium-ion capacity at the Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario. The array helps support Ford’s electricity needs with a 4-MW/8-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) already in operation.

    The energy storage helps decarbonize and defray utility costs during peak demand periods with rates can be higher and need stronger. Convergent’s BESS utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to deploy smart energy solutions and reduce the Ford plant consumption, costs and carbon footprint, according to the companies.

    “The battery storage system provided by Convergent Energy and Power is a strong example of how batteries can support the auto industry at the plant level while also supporting the electric grid serving Ford and the surrounding community,” said Thomas Reeber, Plant Manager at the Ford Essex Plant, in a statement.

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    Ford has publicly vowed to transition to electrification of its automobile lines, but the Convergent BESS at the Essex Engine Plant is one of the first on-site battery arrays for the automaker.

    Lithium-ion is a predominant element for both utility-scale energy storage and EV batteries, although Ford currently uses nickel cobalt manganese for much of its battery chemistries. 

    This summer Ford announced several new and expanded sourcing initiatives for battery capacity and raw materials to overcome global supply chain challenges.

    Ford has set a goal to produce 600,000 electric vehicles annually beginning next year and two million per year by the end of 2026.

    Ford also said it has secured all of the annual battery cell capacity—or about 60 GWh—needed to meet its 600,000 EV run rate goal.

    The company also will add lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry to its battery cell portfolio.  

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    (Rod Walton, senior editor for EnergyTech, is a 14-year veteran of covering the energy industry both as a newspaper and trade journalist. He can be reached at [email protected]). 

    Follow us on Twitter @EnergyTechNews_ and @rodwaltonelp and on LinkedIn      

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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