Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an electrified charging trailer control system that could be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on July 11th, 2022, published on January 11th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0010074.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has long been exploring the concept of using all-electric vehicles and trailers in tandem in a number of ways, filing patents for ideas such as an in-flight EV towing assistance system, a system capable of charging batteries in other vehicles and trailers, bidirectional trailer charging, a trailer charging assistance system, and a charging trailer, to name just a few. Now, this newly filed patent keeps that trend going by presenting us with an idea for a vehicle with electrified charging trailer control that could be used in future Ford EVs, too.
As previously mentioned, the concept of using a trailer with a built-in battery to charge an EV in-flight is nothing new, nor is the idea of using an EV to charge the trailer that it’s towing. This particular patent is more focused on charging other types of things, however, such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), e-bikes, other recreational vehicles, or power tools.
This process would take place while the vehicle is moving and those aforementioned items are stored in the trailer that the EV is towing, but in this case, the trailer itself would provide said charge. Ford even notes that these electric motors and batteries could also be used to drive the trailer’s wheels, which could presumably make it easier to move around or perhaps even take some strain off the towing vehicle – which makes it an intriguing idea that may one day be used in future Ford EVs.
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