Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a heat pump design that could be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on October 7th, 2021, published on April 13th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0114381.
The Ford Authority Take
While the all-new Ford E-Transit Custom comes equipped with a heat pump, the majority of Ford EVs don’t – at least for now. For some time, this has seemed like a bit of a miss, given the fact that many rival all-electric vehicles do, not to mention the fact that heat pumps help improve efficiency in cold weather. Regardless, The Blue Oval has been exploring a number of ways to better regulate cabin temperatures in EVs lately, filing patents for a roof-mounted HVAC system, a vapor injection heat pump system, and an integrated heat pump system. Now, this new patent filing keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for a heat pump that could be used in future Ford EVs.
This new patent is a bit different from those that have preceded it in that the heat pump design outlined here incorporates a refrigerant loop with multiple heat exchangers, a compressor, a vapor generator, and a pair of check valves. There are also provisions for storing fluid and absorbing moisture, which could prevent that fluid from becoming contaminated during use.
Regardless of this, the idea here remains quite simple and straightforward – Ford is clearly exploring ways to incorporate heat pumps into its future EVs, which seems like a no-brainer type of decision, given a regular heater’s negative impact on range in cold weather. With range remaining one of the biggest sticking points among new vehicle shoppers that are on the fence regarding an EV purchase, such a move could go a long way in relieving at least some of those concerns – particularly for those that live in colder climates.
We’ll have more on this and all Ford patents soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford patent news, Ford business news, and ongoing Ford news coverage.
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