Future Ford EVs Could Use Roadway To Wirelessly Charge

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a roadway charging coil alignment and monitoring system that could be used by future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on January 20^th, 2022, published on July 20^th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0226937.

The Ford Authority Take

The idea for wireless charging EV devices is certainly nothing new, as Ford has filed a host of patents related to this concept in recent months – including multiple filings for a hands-free charging system, some of which involve pads or even roadways that vehicles can drive over to receive a boost. Additionally, a prototype Ford Mustang Mach-E with wireless charging technology has already been developed, and a pilot program is underway at Michigan Central Station, to boot. Now, this newly filed patent keeps this trend going by introducing an idea for a roadway charging coil alignment and monitoring system that could be used by future Ford EVs, too.

Rather than introduce another idea for a wireless charging road portion, this patent instead explores how a radar transceiver embedded in the road could could be configured to map out charging coils and determine the steering operation of the vehicle traveling on that part of roadway that would optimize the transfer of energy between the two.

If wirelessly charging roads are to come to fruition as many believe, such a system will prove quite handy, helping to prevent users from having to stop and wait for their vehicles to charge. However, since charging any device wirelessly – such as a smartphone – requires a certain alignment between that device and a charging pad/road, it will undoubtedly be important for vehicles to have the ability to position themselves in the proper manner – which is where a system like this comes into play.

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