Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a charging trailer, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on January 13th, 2022, published on July 13th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0219440.
The Ford Authority Take
The concept of a trailer that charges the EV that’s pulling it is nothing new, as multiple companies are already working on developing such a thing. Ford is also exploring this possibility, filing a pair of patents in recent months – one for a system capable of charging batteries in other vehicles and trailers, and another for a trailer charging assistance system. Now, this newly filed Ford patent keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for a charging trailer that could be used in tandem with EVs and other equipment in the future.
As many have discovered since the advent of the all-electric pickup, these types of vehicles suffer a significant range loss when they’re hauling or towing heavy loads. The idea of a charging trailer is a potential temporary solution to address this problem until battery technology advances, as it could act essentially as a portable power source used to charge the EV that’s pulling it – or even other electrical devices, such as those found at a construction site.
The concept behind this Ford patent is, on the surface, relatively simple – the charging trailer would contain a large rechargeable battery pack, a recharging port, and one or more charging ports used to charge other devices or vehicles. However, the trailer would also contain one or more electric motors that could be used to maneuver it around on its own, along with a controller that oversees such movement.
Overall, the idea of a charging trailer seems like a good one, particularly since we’re likely years away from significant advancements in battery technology. However, this particular trailer has far more uses than merely charging the EV that it’s pulling, which makes it even more viable.
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 continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
Gee – who would have thought to drag a trailer with a generator along behind an EV? Maybe just stick with gas engines or at least a Hybrid??
How would this help me when pulling my RV? I don’t see the point.