Ford has filed a patent utility for a brand new kind of EV charging connector primarily based on a magnetic coupling.
Within the utility, which was filed with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) November 1, 2022, Ford describes utilizing magnetic attraction to safe a charging connector with a cost port embedded in a car’s bumper.
It sounds considerably just like the MagSafe connector you would possibly use to cost your Apple product, however a complete lot greater.
Ford envisions this magnetic charging connector getting used with each EVs and plug-in hybrids, and with AC and DC charging stations. It additionally indicated that the magnetic connector could possibly be put in on autos together with standard cost ports.
Ford magnetic EV charger patent picture
Missing a cable, this setup does require maneuvering a car to align with the charging station. To make this much less difficult, Ford mentioned within the utility that it will design in a point of articulation to permit a hookup so long as the motive force is comparatively near the goal.
Ford does think about this to be a type of conductive charging, with a bodily connection to transmit electrical energy, versus the inductive charging exemplified by wi-fi charging methods. As with MagSafe, the magnetic system will assist align connectors.
Eliminating the bodily connection is enticing, too. The current Ram Charger inductive charging robotic does with out it, urgent up towards a charging pad as soon as aligned beneath the car however counting on a magnetic area in between. The Basic Motors EV1 additionally used a novel Magne-Cost induction charging paddle.
Ford magnetic EV charger patent picture
Ford hasn’t confirmed plans to make use of this novel charging connector in future manufacturing autos. Among the many potential issues are the beauty (and parking vulnerability) problem of integrating the cost port with a car’s bumper.
The need to remove the fuss of dealing with charging cables has led to some attention-grabbing concepts, such because the snake-like robotic charger Tesla confirmed in 2015 and quietly shelved. The automaker now seems extra centered on rallying different automakers to make use of its NACS connector, maybe as a part of a push to win federal cash reserved for a nationwide charging community. Aptera has confirmed plans to make use of the Tesla connector, however the automaker’s pitch would not appear to have generated a lot curiosity from different companies.