Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for tear-away service panels that may be used in future Ford EV battery packs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on August 31st, 2021, published on April 25th, 2023, and assigned serial number 11634020.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford is one of many automakers investing heavily in all-electric vehicles at the moment, with plans to significantly ramp up production in the coming years. However, EVs are quite a bit different than ICE vehicles in ways other than their respective powertrains – which means that manufacturers must ensure that technicians know how to service and repair them, not to mention the fact that serviceable items are at least somewhat easy to access. That latter point is precisely what this newly filed Ford patent aims to address by introducing a tear-away service panel that could be used in future Ford EV battery packs.
While some companies don’t want people accessing the inside of an EV’s battery pack or servicing it in any manner – opting instead to make them purchase an entire replacement pack – Ford seems to be exploring ways to make this not only possible, but also relatively easy to do, at least for trained technicians.
To access a battery pack’s internal components, techs could simply remove these service panels, though as one might imagine, once those panels are removed, they likely won’t simply bolt right back into place. In an effort to keep the battery pack sealed and protected from the elements, this patent also outlines the replacement process, which involves fitting a new panel that could be part of a resealing kit, along with a cleaning agent and adhesive.
Such an idea certainly has merit, as it makes far more sense to repair or replace something like a single faulty cell rather that scrapping an entire battery pack, particularly since those units are the most expensive component of an all-electric vehicle. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising to see an idea like this come to fruition at some point in the future.
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Comments
Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of the HF35 and HF45 hybrid transaxle. And it shows that the main electric motor directly drives the wheels, proving that Ford hybrids drive as electrics until the controller detects that more power is needed. Then the generator is activated to start the gas engine, which uses the planetary transmission to add power to the gears driving the wheels. It is very efficient and has been working since 2005 with the first Escape Hybrid.
Ford basically used Toyota tech for their hybrid system back then. They even licensed the Toyota hybrid technology to prevent any potential legal issues.
In the case of these serviceable batteries, while it makes sense in theory it could really be a mess. Replacing just one or two cells in such a huge battery could really pose a problem for a dealer tech. These cells just don’t “plop in” like putting new batteries in a flash light. Add a “flat rate” element to the work and it’s just a disaster waiting to happen.
Ford was in advance on Toyota whith there etransmission and 2 liters hatchkinson motor in year 2018 after 15 years in a war whith Toyota. You gave the head to Toyota when you lay down the super Fusion and the cmax hybrid and plug in. You would go back and reinstroduce the cmax and the Fusion who are superb to go in the futur and not lose the face of the electric industrie. I had a prius and now a Cmax and i woud have a Fusion who are ahead of Toyota. Why not continue??…Mario Ouellette a French Canadian in Quebec…Hi
Now you have the mustang to compete with the big one Tesla. ok and a good one the ford Transit. all right for commercial. and you have the F-150 Lightling..super for the transition to electric. And a connection with de Cmax and Fusion, the new pickup hybrid Maveric. Now go back whit de cmax and the Fusion and you will enter some over cash….Mario Ouellette a french Canadis from the Quebec. You have all the tools and plans to r3eintroduce them. Tank you to listen me a little bit. Hi!!