Ford Patent Filed For EV Charging Cable Pliability Control

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for charging cable pliability control that may be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on January 13^th, 2023, published on July 18^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0239216.

The Ford Authority Take

In its quest to make charging easier, faster, and more convenient for EV owners, more than one Ford patent has been filed in recent months revolving around that particular concept. That includes ideas for things such as a hands-free EV charging system, as well as an EV cable with an inductor portion, and a new type of charger cable that should greatly reduce charging times when it ultimately comes to fruition. Now, this newly published Ford patent keeps that trend going by presenting us with a rather interesting concept – this time, for charging cable pliability control.

The concept behind this patent is to address a common problem – least for EV owners that live in very cold climates, where charging cables can stiffen as temperatures drop. This can make it more difficult for owners to navigate charging cables into the proper position where they can be used, particularly those that lack physical strength or are older.

To help combat that problem, this Ford patent proposes using a special pliability control system that would be able to recognize if a user might have trouble operating a stiff charging cable in cold weather. If that is the case, the system would then see if it can locate a nearby charger, and – based on ambient temperature – heat up the cable ahead of time to ensure that it’s easy for the EV driver to use upon arrival. It’s an interesting concept for certain, and one that would make a lot of sense as more and more EVs and chargers begin to populate our roads in the coming years.

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