Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a system capable of charging recreational vehicles while they’re being towed that could be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on July 18th, 2022, published on January 18th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0022106.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has long been exploring the idea of using electric vehicles to charge trailers or RVs, and vice versa, with other patents being filed outlining ways for those same towed vessels providing backup power to EVs. In recent months, that list includes patent filings for an electrified charging trailer control system, a regenerative braking battery charging system, and a charging trailer, to name just a few. Now, this new patent keeps that trend going by introducing an idea for a system capable of charging recreational vehicles while they’re being towed that could be used in future Ford EVs, too.
The concept here is a rather simple one, as future Ford EVs would be able to use their battery packs to provide charge for the recreational vehicles that they’re towing, which is already essentially possible with the automaker’s Pro Power Onboard feature. However, in this case, the system is a bit more advanced and targeted specifically to RVs.
Once a power connector is mated between the EV and the RV it’s towing, the system would be able to automatically detect the connected device and its state of charge, then provide a specific current capacity based on the device. It would then monitor that state of charge until the desired level is reached, with certain thresholds in place to prevent the RV from draining too much energy from the EV. It’s an interesting idea for certain, and with several all-electric RVs in development, may very well come to fruition at some point in the near future.
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.
Comments
Sure. Half your range by towing and then half it again to charge your trailer. Cool. As long as the campsite is only 25 miles away.
Can you reverse it? use the RV to extend the range of the Lightning?