Innovative charging technology: Ford electric pickup truck may enable trailer sharing

According to news on August 24, solutions to the battery life problem of electric pickup trucks have attracted much attention recently. In the United States, pickup truck owners often buy pickup trucks because of their high torque and use them as towing vehicles. However, with the rise of electric pickup trucks and the impact of towing a trailer on a vehicle's range, Ford has come up with an innovative solution.

According to information released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a patent application submitted by Ford on February 1, 2022 shows that they plan to use two-way charging technology to connect electric vehicles and trailers equipped with batteries. Achieve energy sharing. The core idea of ​​this system is to ensure that the trailer's battery is always charged, by drawing energy from one or more trailer battery packs to make up for the reduced range due to towing. It is worth mentioning that these trailers also have the function of charging themselves for the cargo they carry.

Ford’s patent application also mentions that these trailers can be equipped with various chargers to meet the needs of charging electric skateboards, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, etc. The patent application also shows a pickup truck with a unique front-cab design, which may be used in future Ford products. According to the editor's understanding, Ford plans to launch a full-size electric pickup truck in 2025 as part of its F-150 The successor to Lightning, but the technology is also expected to be applied in other types of vehicles, including SUVs.

In addition to Ford, some other companies are also exploring similar solutions to extend the range of electric vehicles. Colorado Teardrop's Boulder travel trailer is equipped with a 75-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can charge the tow vehicle while parked. Airstream demonstrated a concept called eStream that increases range by adding an electric motor system to the trailer, reducing the burden on the towing vehicle. In a test, this system made an Audi E-Tron The Sportback's actual range increases from an EPA-rated 218 miles to 240 miles.

According to the editor’s understanding, General Motors is also exploring a new system that adds a self-propelled traction assist device between the tractor and trailer to provide Trailers provide additional propulsion. Although these companies have proposed these concepts in patent applications, whether these technologies can ultimately be put into practical use will require time to verify and further development. As electric vehicle technology continues to evolve, these innovative solutions are expected to provide feasible ways to solve the battery life problem of electric vehicles.

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