Ford Patent Filed For Microbial Decontamination System For Scooters

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a microbial decontamination system for scooters, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on May 11^th, 2021, published on August 20^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 12064528.

The Ford Authority Take

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one Ford patent has been filed exploring ways to sanitize vehicles and devices – a list that includes ideas for a system capable of recharging and sanitizing cell phones, an air sanitizing apparatus, and a UV light-based sanitation system, to name just a few. Now, this newly published Ford patent aims to come up with a way to incorporate a microbial decontamination system into scooters.

Notably, Ford used to own the micromobility scooter company known as Spin, but it only retained a stake in the company after it merged with the European outfit Tier back in March 2022. Regardless, Ford continues to explore potential future scooter tech via patent filings, including one for a type of accessible scooter just over a year ago – and now, this concept for a microbial decontamination system that aims to eliminate germs on those types of vehicles between riders.

This system would be able to apply enough heat to surface areas on a scooter to kill off any potential germs, and it could do so in between riders, too. In fact, the system would prevent riders from renting a scooter while this process is being completed, after which it could notify them that it’s ready to ride. It’s a pretty simple idea, but one that could very well serve an important purpose in the future, if it comes to fruition.

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