Ford Patent Filed For Onboard Water Generation Diagnostics

Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for onboard water generation diagnostics that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.

The patent was filed on March 1^st, 2022, published on November 12^th, 2024, and assigned serial number 12139423.

The Ford Authority Take

For various reasons, Ford has published a couple of patents in recent months that explore ideas for different ways future vehicles may be able to carry tanks of water. Those fillings include ideas for a vehicular water generation system that would collect condensation and turn it into safe drinking water, as well as water generation estimation technology that could also do precisely that same thing, which could come in handy during times when it may be difficult to find water that’s safe to consume. Now, this newly published patent keeps that trend going with an idea for an onboard water generation diagnostics system.

In many ways, this new patent is similar to the aforementioned ones in that it revolves around the concept of using a vehicle to generate water that’s safe for human consumption. However, it notes that people may be weary of using such a system if they’re not entirely sure that it’s sanitizing water properly, and also points out that these types of systems can oftentimes expend too much energy doing precisely that. Thus, this system would use not only a generator and a storage container to create and store water, but also, an ultraviolet light to sanitize it, and a notification system.

The key here is that notification system, as it would be capable of informing the user when the water generator is working properly, and when it needs maintenance. This information would be displayed on a vehicle’s infotainment screen along with the current level of water in the tank, whether or not leaks are present, and even options to purge the system remotely – giving users a bit more control over the process.