Ford is growing a winch for electrical cars that might plug at once right into a fee port.
It’s now not extraordinary for winches to a automobile’s 12-volt AC accent electric energy, however in a patent software revealed via the United States Patent and Trademark Place of work (USPTO) on July 9, Ford proposes operating a cable from a winch to a fee port to attract energy from an EV’s battery gather. That calls for bidirectional charging capability, which Ford has presented on its F-150 Lightning pickup since founding.
Ford EV winch patent symbol
To produce this paintings, the winch would have a DC motor, permitting it to energy from the battery gather with out the desire for an inverter to transform electrical energy to AC. DC motors will also be extra environment friendly than AC motors, Ford says within the software, and an EV battery gather is a far better energy supply than the 12-volt batteries in most cases worn to energy winches.
Ford already shall we consumers virtue battery packs to energy gear and alternative gadgets with the Professional Energy Enroute gadget to be had within the Lightning and F-150 hybrid, the usage of devoted shops within the mattress.
Ford EV winch patent symbol
As it’s designed to be plugged right into a fee port, Ford additionally notes that the winch will also be powered via a distinct EV to the only it’s fixed to, in addition to alternative cars with fee ports, equivalent to plug-in hybrids. Alternative exterior energy resources may well be worn as neatly, and the winch may also be got rid of from the automobile and operated remotely, Ford suggests.
This winch turns out like a herbal are compatible for Ford’s next-generation electrical truck, codenamed T3, however that type has been delayed until 2027 because the automaker refocuses on hybrids and smaller, extra inexpensive EVs. However in all probability we’ll see it on a extra off-road-ready model of the Lightning once in a while.