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Dec 15, 2023

Ford's Portable Charging Trailer Could Be A True Game Changer

Ford recently filed a patent for a charging trailer that can charge itself and even power-up your EV. Ford does it again! Whether it is by redefining its flagship models with new powertrains, making a

Ford recently filed a patent for a charging trailer that can charge itself and even power-up your EV.

Ford does it again! Whether it is by redefining its flagship models with new powertrains, making a hydrogen-powered van, or coming up with new gadgets, the company never shies away from immersing itself in the electric vehicle fray. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) revealed on July 13 that Ford filed a patent for a portable charging trailer that can be used to power up your EV.

Judging by the USPTO’s documents, the concept includes all the regular components of a normal trailer, with a regular body, wheels, tires, and whatnot. The core of the trailer, however, includes electric batteries, possibly lithium-ion, if our intuitions are correct. The moving trailer will also be powered by one or more electric motors and includes a charging port to receive energy, as well as a recharging port to power up your EV, or your devices. A controller is also included, and can be used to maneuver the trailer independently, making it ideal for inexperienced drivers. This means that the trailer can also move by itself, as its own unit, and does not need to be towed at all times. The portable trailer is also more than a simple leisurely tool, but can also be used as a portable charger for construction equipment and tools, road maintenance crews, and back-up for stranded vehicles in dire need of replenishment.

Related: 10 Things Electric Car Owners Keep Quiet About

How much range is enough range for an electric pickup truck? We have yet to find out. We do know, however, that 300 miles is not it. The advertised number gets cut significantly once the heavy-duty starts. While the 2025 RAM 1500 REV touts 500 miles of range on its most potent variant, it has yet to become a commercial reality, and we have yet to see how those specs translate in real life. Until then, we’ll have to contend with the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T as our most efficient offerings in the category.

Consumer Reports conducted tests on both, in order to assess their efficiency under duress. The results after a 71-mile loop were below expectations. The Ford F-150 Lightning saw its range drop to 91 miles when attached to a 10,000-pound trailer, which is less than one-third of its 320-mile EPA rating. With the same trailer attached, the Rivian R1T saw its range capacity drop to 84 miles, despite boasting an initial 314 miles on paper. Hauling your boat over a long distance can therefore come with a serious bit of range anxiety, as you’d need to stop and recharge a couple of times at least. Considering how the Ford F-150 Lightning takes from 36 to 41 minutes to fast-charge from 10 to 80 percent, and the long queue problem, you might find yourself seriously delayed on the way to your vacation destination.

Powertrain Layout

Dual Electric Motor

Maximum Horsepower

580 horsepower (extended range)

Maximum Torque

775 pound-feet

Electric Range

320 miles (extended)

Acceleration (0-60mph)

Four seconds

Top Speed

110 mph

Payload Capacity

2,235 pounds

Towing Capacity

10,000 pounds

By being autonomous, and an extra source of energy, the charging trailer could therefore be the saving electric pickup trucks desperately need. In terms of market share, the F-150 Lightning achieved a meager improvement since Q1 of last year, as it only managed to sell 5,652 in the first four months of 2023. Despite its impressive specs, the electric juggernaut still falls behind the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and, the Volkswagen ID4 and the Tesla Model Y, in the sales rankings. It is therefore evident that in the EV realm, SUVs and sedans are the more popular options, since most people don't see the point of driving an electric pickup truck, for now.

Conversely, the gas-powered Ford F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. If the company wishes to carry over that success into its electric version, it will need to fine-tune a couple of things first. The portable charging trailer should be a good first step towards achieving just that, by making the F-150 Lightning and other E-pickup trucks more practical, and thus more alluring.

Related: 10 Uncomfortable Truths About Owning An Electric Car

The endeavor isn't Ford's first innovation in this regard. Earlier this year, Ford filed another patent for a roof-mounted backup EV battery system. The system resembles a conventional roofbox, but with a charging cable attached to it. This electric roof apparel also comes with a controller and can be used to seamlessly transfer power into the main battery pack, without any intervention from the driver. The initiative received backlash from consumers online who argued that mounting additional batteries on top would only serve to make the EV even heavier, and potentially offset its center of gravity.

Controversially, the company has also introduced a patent that allows cars to automatically repossess themselves. In the broader sense, the manufacturer would use the driver assist system to control the vehicle or remotely guide it to a specific location, be it a tow truck, the dealership, or the junkyard. While it is easier to sympathize with the prospect of delinquent drivers or car thieves being forced to stop or getting locked out of the vehicle, other possible scenarios are nothing short of dystopian. The idea of having basic functions such as air conditioning, power windows, or your entire infotainment screen deactivated as punishment is infuriating, and yet highly plausible. The company also filed a patent for a portable range-extending generator a few years ago, but we haven't heard much about that since.

Related: 15 Disadvantages Of Electric Cars

Ford's dominance over the vehicle industry is well known. The gas-powered F-150 is still dominating the U.S. sales charts after almost five decades. Yet despite cementing its legacy as a prominent petrol mogul, the company doesn't shy away from embracing the electric vehicle industry. In Europe, Ford is committed to electrifying its entire passenger vehicle fleet by 2026, be it partially through plug-in hybrids, or fully, through electric vehicles. The company is also set to have its entire commercial range consist of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2024. These ambitions are fueled by the brand’s massive success in the continent. Ford previously managed to remain Europe’s leading commercial vehicles sales brand for six consecutive years.

The industry pioneer plans to reach 600,000 EVs annually by Q4 of 2023, on the way to two million vehicles by 2026. The electrification strategy, which targets a complete carbon neutrality by 2050, is also multilinear. The automotive giant invested $500 million in Rivian, and is relying on Volkswagen Modular Electric Drive architecture to build another electric vehicle, aimed specifically at the European market. In the U.S., the centenary carmaker is building a dedicated battery manufacturing complex in Kentucky, in partnership with SK innovation, with $5.8 billion in investments. Another $5.6 billion mega campus is being built in Stanton, Tennessee to study innovative battery manufacturing methods. Overall, Ford is investing no less than $22 billion to concretize its electrification plans through 2025. While the company only has three electric vehicles in its repertoire, namely: the E-Transit, the Mustang Mach-E, and the F-150 Lightning, consumers are promised three new passenger vehicles, and four new commercial vehicles by 2024.

So far, the upcoming additions are:

Nacim is a car lover, a combat sports fan and a journalist. Being a polyglot and a multitasker, he has entrenched himself in several fields, ranging from Translation to Voice Acting.Nacim is fluent in French, Arabic and English, holds a Master's Degree in Interpreting, and dreams of driving a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse.