Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an in-flight towing braking assistance system that may be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on June 3rd , 2021, published on July 30th, 2024, and assigned serial number 12049210.
The Ford Authority Take
More than one Ford patent has been filed in recent months outlining various ways future EV owners may charge their vehicles on the fly, including ideas for an EV charging pad with wireless charging, an in-flight EV towing assistance system, and an in-flight charging system in general. Now, this newly-filed Ford patent expands upon the latter two by presenting us with an idea for an in-flight towing braking assistance system that may be used in future Ford EVs, too.
The concept here is quite simple, in fact – Ford is proposing a way for a vehicle that may be in the process of charging another EV that it’s towing using bidirectional charging technology, but in this case, that towed vehicle would also provide braking assistance as well. The system would be able to automatically detect when a vehicle is towing another vehicle, after which it disable the manual braking controls of the vehicle being towed, and then monitor the brake pedal of the vehicle that’s doing the towing.
When the brake pedal is depressed, the system would automatically request braking assistance from the vehicle being towed, which could be adjusted based on need. In fact, the system could tweak braking force automatically to ensure that both slow down as required, which could prove to be a boon for future EVs – especially when the time comes to tow one electric vehicle using another.
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.
Comments
I already have that with my tow package in my 2017 F-350 diesel dually truck. I can feel my 5th wheel brakes engaged before my truck brakes when slowing down or stopping.
Instead of the usually dumb Ford useless patents, their latest one is to send info to the cops that both you are exceeding the speed limit, or cars that have their license plate visible to your car’s camera.
Haha, no more FORDS for me.