Data centers and artificial intelligence are driving the transformation of battery manufacturers for electric cars in the US.

The slowdown in the electric vehicle market and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping the energy industry: ten factories in the United States are already redirecting their production towards storage systems for data centers, in a strategic shift that could redefine the industrial map of the next decade.

Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming software; it’s reshaping entire industries. In the United States, the slowdown in the electric vehicle market is pushing battery manufacturers to change course. Their new focus: AI data centers, which demand enormous volumes of energy storage to sustain their growth.

According to data published by the Financial Times, ten North American factories that previously produced batteries for electric cars are now allocating some of their capacity to energy storage systems (ESS) for data centers. This move confirms a broader trend: more and more sectors are pivoting around artificial intelligence.

The change of course: from electric cars to data centers

This shift is significant. According to the consulting firm CRU, these ten plants have canceled enough capacity to produce batteries for approximately 2 million electric vehicles. Seven of them will focus primarily on the energy storage market for critical infrastructure, including data centers.

Among the companies involved are heavyweights of the automotive industry:

– Ford is modifying a factory in Kentucky.

– Stellantis, along with its partner Samsung SDI, is converting production lines at its Indiana plant.

– General Motors is also evaluating producing its own energy storage batteries, according to statements from its head of batteries.

The message is clear: artificial intelligence infrastructure is becoming a new lifeline for manufacturers facing weaker demand in the electric vehicle segment.

Why Data Centers Need So Many Batteries

Data centers that train and run artificial intelligence models require an uninterrupted power supply. A blackout or voltage fluctuation can result in losses of millions of dollars and compromise critical operations.

With the boom in data center construction in the United States—driven by the global race in generative AI—storage batteries have become a structural component of digital infrastructure. It’s not just about backup power during outages: it also helps manage peak demand, stabilize the grid, and optimize energy costs.

This scenario opens up an alternative revenue stream for automotive companies facing tighter margins in the electric vehicle business.

Source: www.itsitio.com