Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an electric trailer towing system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on February 10th, 2023, published on August 15th, 2024, and assigned serial number 0270082.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has been quick to innovate in the trailer towing space over the past few years, introducing a number of features that help make that task easy for anyone – including those less experienced at towing things. Regardless, it also continues to file patents revolving around potentially new towing technology such as a system capable of charging recreational vehicles while they’re being towed, an in-flight EV towing assistance system, a trailer charging assistance system, bidirectional trailer charging, a charging trailer, and an electrified charging trailer control system. Now, that list has expanded to include this newly published patent for an electric trailer towing system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
The concept behind this newly published patent is to find ways to optimize power consumption in a towing vehicle, which is important given the fact that trailers tend to cause significant drag on the vehicle that’s towing them – leading to a drop in fuel efficiency for ICE models, or range for EVs.
To counteract that impact, Ford proposes adding drive motors to the trailer’s wheels that would draw power either from a battery or  mechanical force. The system would also be capable of monitoring conditions in real time and adjusting the rotation angle of each wheel, or turning the motors on/off as needed. It’s an interesting idea, and one that may help improve a vehicle’s efficiency when towing a trailer in the future, if it comes to fruition.
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
Why not add the 2 cylinder LiquidPiston ICE rotary generator that feeds and charges the Lightning while you drive. This could extend the range of any trailer. Weight of this generator if about 210 lbs. Throw it in the back when needed.
We need to see many of these patents in action.