Ford has filed a patent utility with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) for a dual-charge-port resolution that may enable a number of EVs to cost in collection from the identical charging station.
First noticed by CarBuzz, the system described within the patent utility makes use of bidirectional charging functionality. However as an alternative of both charging or discharging by a single cost port, this resolution permits autos to do each, taking in energy by one cost port and sending it to a different car by a second port.
Within the patent utility, Ford mentioned this may very well be achieved with AC energy sources, together with house charging stations and wall retailers, or DC fast-charging stations. And it is not essentially restricted to charging autos.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Clever Backup Energy
Ford additionally suggests use in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) purposes, doubtlessly permitting a collection of autos to take power from the grid, give it again to the grid, or share cost between autos, relying on software program.
Whereas patent filings are certainly not proof of manufacturing intentions, this does look like it may very well be a fantastic complement to the Residence Integration System that is provided at present within the Ford F-150 Lightning, permitting the pickup truck to function an emergency house energy backup supply.
Past conserving the lights on throughout energy outages, this tech may be utilized to the varied V2G situations mentioned by automakers and electrical utilities, corresponding to buffering the grid through the use of teams of EVs to soak up extra energy for later use.
2022 Ford E-Transit
Or maybe it may very well be a part of optimizing cost profiles between EVs which can be supported with Ford’s Professional enterprise. Serving to companies cost fleets of EVs in a manner that minimizes electrical energy prices is a vital a part of Ford’s plan to promote extra work-oriented EVs.
This additionally seems just like a patent final 12 months from Normal Motors, which additionally mentioned utilizing twin cost ports to extend flexibility. Given the mutual goalpost of smarter, cost-effective charging, it would not be shocking if a number of fleet-minded automakers are seeing one thing very near the identical resolution.