U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors are doing something few expected: walking away from electric vehicles. Instead, they’re pouring billions into battery storage for the next big power hog—AI data centers. Ford just inked a deal with battery startup Form Energy to build a massive grid-scale battery plant in Michigan. Meanwhile, GM sold its $5 billion stake in battery maker LG Energy Solution to focus entirely on stationary storage for data centers and utilities.

The move marks a sharp turn from the EV rush of the past decade. Just two years ago, both companies bet their futures on electric cars, promising dozens of new models. But sales stalled. In 2024, EVs made up just 9% of U.S. auto sales, far below the 20% forecasted by industry analysts. High prices, charging headaches, and a lack of affordable models killed momentum. Now, they’re scrambling for a new angle—and AI is it.

Data centers powering AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini now gulp down about 2% of all U.S. electricity. That’s roughly 40 terawatt-hours a year—enough to power 3.7 million homes. With demand exploding, tech giants are desperate for reliable storage to keep the lights on during peak hours. Enter automakers with deep pockets and battery expertise. Ford’s new plant will churn out iron-air batteries designed to store energy for days, not hours. GM’s pivot focuses on lithium-ion packs repurposed from old EV batteries, a cheaper way to meet data center needs.

The strategy isn’t just about selling batteries. It’s about controlling the energy supply chain. Ford’s CEO Jim Farley said the company sees a chance to “own the grid,” not just the road. GM’s CEO Mary Barra called stationary storage a “$1 trillion opportunity” by 2030. Both are betting that AI’s hunger for power will outlast consumer demand for EVs.

But the shift carries risks. Battery storage is a crowded market with giants like Tesla, Fluence, and QuantumScape already dominating. Ford and GM are latecomers, and their bets rely on unproven tech. Iron-air batteries, for example, haven’t scaled beyond pilot projects. And AI’s energy appetite could shift again—if regulators crack down on data center power use, the whole plan might fizzle.

What happens next? Ford’s Michigan plant breaks ground in 2025, with production slated for 2027. GM’s first data center batteries hit the market in 2026. Analysts expect both companies to partner with tech firms like Microsoft and Amazon, which are racing to power their AI clouds sustainably. If successful, the pivot could revive their fortunes—or leave them holding expensive, unsold batteries if AI’s growth slows. Either way, it’s a high-stakes gamble on the next power surge.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Wired
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 10:00 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #wired · #tech · #science · #gadgets · #electric-vehicle

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A gigante americana Ford e a tradicional GM surpreenderam o mercado ao anunciarem que estão deixando de lado, em parte, a aposta em veículos elétricos para focar em sistemas de armazenamento de energia, especialmente para alimentar data centers de inteligência artificial. A decisão, que pode parecer contraditória em um momento de expansão dos carros elétricos, reflete uma estratégia de diversificação diante do crescimento exponencial da demanda por energia em um mundo cada vez mais digital.

No Brasil, onde a transição energética ainda enfrenta desafios como a dependência de hidrelétricas e a necessidade de modernizar a infraestrutura, a movimentação das montadoras norte-americanas sinaliza uma oportunidade para o setor de energia renovável. A parceria com data centers — que consomem quantidades imensas de eletricidade — pode impulsionar investimentos em baterias de grande escala e soluções de armazenamento, setores ainda pouco explorados no país. Além disso, a notícia reforça a importância de o Brasil não ficar para trás na corrida tecnológica, aproveitando seu potencial em energias limpas para atrair novos negócios e empregos qualificados na área de tecnologia.

Se essa transição realmente se concretizar, o impacto pode ir muito além das montadoras, chegando ao bolso do consumidor por meio de tarifas de energia mais estáveis e até mesmo na geração de novos postos de trabalho no setor de TI e infraestrutura energética.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Ford y General Motors dan un giro radical al aparcar su apuesta por los coches eléctricos y apostar por el almacenamiento de baterías para centros de datos de inteligencia artificial. La decisión, que marca un cambio estratégico en la industria automotriz, podría redefinir el futuro energético y laboral, especialmente en un momento en que el crecimiento de las ventas de vehículos eléctricos se ralentiza.

Este movimiento responde a una estrategia más amplia para aprovechar la infraestructura de baterías que ya desarrollan estas compañías, mientras buscan diversificar sus ingresos ante la caída de la demanda de coches eléctricos. Para los consumidores hispanohablantes, esto podría traducirse en una mayor estabilidad en el precio de la energía a largo plazo, ya que los centros de datos alimentados por baterías recargables podrían optimizar el consumo eléctrico. Además, la inversión en este sector podría generar nuevas oportunidades laborales en tecnología y energías limpias, aunque también plantea desafíos en la transición hacia una movilidad más sostenible.