Future Ford Vehicles Could Get Interchangeable AC Outlets

November 30, 2023 12:42 pm

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for interchangeable AC outlets that could be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on April 27^th, 2023, published on November 30^th, 2023, and assigned serial number 0387638.

The Ford Authority Take

Given the tremendous popularity of not only Ford’s Pro Power Onboard generator feature and the abundance of power outlets being installed in modern vehicles, it’s no surprise that The Blue Oval has filed patents for things like an integrated roof rail power outlet system, a hybrid-focused power system, and an integrated truck bed for power outlets in recent months. Now, this newly filed patent continues that trend by introducing a similar yet rather interesting idea for interchangeable AC outlets that could be used in future Ford vehicles, too.

DC power outlets have been used in vehicles for a number of years now, as is the case with USB ports, more recently. However, some have also taken to using DC-to-AC power inverters as well, though this can be a bit inconvenient. With the ever-evolving world of power ports, automakers have been left with a bit of a conundrum – continue to change with the times and risk having older vehicles seem a bit outdated, or perhaps utilize AC outlets that can be swapped out, as is the case here.

The concept for this particular type of interchangeable AC outlet is that it would have a pivotable faceplate in lieu of a traditional cover that’s found in many modern vehicles, which would cover or expose the prongs for an AC power plug. The internal components of the outlet would be stored inside of a cylinder that users could change out with different types of plugs used in different parts of the world, which obviously makes it a bit more universal – making this design a solid possibility for use in future Ford vehicles.

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 comprehensive Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.