- Ford lately filed a patent for an backup battery pack that EV house owners can deliver alongside so they do not have to fret a lot about vary.
- The battery, proven housed on the roof of the automobile, comprises battery modules, a backup battery meeting, and a connection port to maximise ease.
- The patent pictures use a Ford Bronco because the demo automobile. May an electrical Bronco be nearer than we expect? Both method, this invention might be not coming quickly.
There are two issues we all know to be true concerning the EV market: Automakers need to promote the adoption of electrical automobiles, and customers are nervous about vary. Now, as first reported by Electrek, Ford has utilized for an progressive patent for a backup battery pack that may journey on the roof of the car. This patent seems to be like a novel method to deal with the vary nervousness and charging considerations that folks typically affiliate with EVs, particularly on prolonged journeys. One suggestion within the patent software is that these battery packs may very well be “rented or leased previous to an off-roading journey, for instance.”
The patent outlines a mechanism designed to supply further energy and vary to EVs when the first battery is depleted. It is a modular system that is meant to be appropriate throughout completely different EV fashions and, a minimum of based on the outline, easy to preserve and improve. The models are stacked to supply essentially the most capability.
Past the truth that a roof-mounted battery pack is sitting on prime of the car in these drawings, it is fascinating that the car used resembles the Ford Bronco. We surprise if this can be a trace that an EV model of Ford’s big-selling Bronco is coming quickly.
So Many Questions
However we, like others, have questions, principally: How does Ford plan on reinforcing the roof to deal with the load? A rack cannot do it alone. And the way does the battery stand up there (and down once more)? EV battery packs’ weight can vary into the 1000’s of kilos.
The patent software explains that the battery is detachable, which leads us to imagine this roof-mounted pack will not have the capability of the big packs automakers use to energy their EVs. This ought to make sure the pack weighs only a couple hundred kilos—a sum most roof racks are able to holding. As an example, the unique Prius plug-in hybrid’s 4.4-kWh battery hit the scales at a manufacturer-claimed 176 kilos.
That does not imply it’s going to be simple to hoist a battery pack in your EV or PHEV’s roof. Anybody who’s ever used a roof-mounted cargo service can let you know that you simply’d doubtless want a minimum of one different particular person to help with this activity.
Assuming our hunch is right, then we expect the potential product this patent hints at will serve the equal goal of a gasoline automobile’s reserve tank. That stated, given the additional weight and unfavourable results on aerodynamics the extra pack could have on an EV, it is attainable this idea really worsens an EV’s vary, notably at freeway pace.
At decrease speeds, although, reminiscent of in off-road environments, this roof-mounted battery pack may provide the little bit of additional juice wanted to get again to the trailhead. Including a set of photo voltaic panels may make this idea even higher, as they’d enable the roof-mounted pack to—slowly—replenish itself, too.
It appears evident that this invention just isn’t going to turn into a actuality anytime within the close to future. It should be a placeholder for a future time when Ford has the precise electrical off-road car to make use of it with—and, extra necessary, when battery know-how has superior sufficiently that the load just isn’t a difficulty anymore.
Summer season Editorial Intern
Alessandra Kaestner, a Chicago native, has all the time been thinking about journalism. She remembers listening to NPR each day earlier than college together with her mother and father and attempting to race her dad to get the New York Instances from the entrance door. Alessandra continued her ardour for journalism by working at her college’s newspaper throughout her first yr and into her sophomore yr: the Cornell Each day Solar. She is majoring in psychology and philosophy and desires to discover regulation and journalism. Though she doesn’t have a variety of background on this planet of vehicles, Alessandra is thinking about increasing her data and gaining expertise. She couldn’t be extra excited to work with so many proficient individuals at Automotive and Driver.
Senior Editor
Regardless of their shared final identify, Greg Fink just isn’t associated to Ed “Huge Daddy” Roth’s notorious Rat Fink. Each Finks, nevertheless, are recognized for his or her love of vehicles, automobile tradition, and—surprisingly—monogrammed one-piece bathing fits. Greg’s profession within the media business goes again greater than a decade. His earlier expertise contains stints as an editor at publications reminiscent of U.S. Information & World Report, The Huffington Submit, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend.
