There are two issues we all know to be true concerning the EV market: Automakers need to promote the adoption of electrical automobiles, and shoppers are frightened about vary. Now, as first reported by Electrek, Ford has utilized for an modern patent for a backup battery pack that may journey on the roof of the car. This patent seems like a novel option to handle the vary nervousness and charging issues that folks usually affiliate with EVs, particularly on prolonged journeys. One suggestion within the patent software is that these battery packs could possibly be “rented or leased previous to an off-roading journey, for instance.”

The patent outlines a mechanism designed to offer extra energy and vary to EVs when the first battery is depleted. It is a modular system that is supposed to be appropriate throughout totally different EV fashions and, at the least in keeping with the outline, easy to keep and improve. The items are stacked to offer probably 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 marvel 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 burden? 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 illustration, 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 will be straightforward to hoist a battery pack in your EV or PHEV’s roof. Anybody who’s ever used a roof-mounted cargo service can inform you that you simply’d doubtless want at the least one different particular person to help with this process.

Assuming our hunch is right, then we expect the potential product this patent hints at will serve the equal goal of a fuel automotive’s reserve tank. That stated, given the additional weight and unfavorable results on aerodynamics the extra pack may have on an EV, it is attainable this idea really worsens an EV’s vary, significantly at freeway velocity.

At decrease speeds, although, comparable to in off-road environments, this roof-mounted battery pack could supply 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 is just not going to turn out to be 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 vital, when battery expertise has superior sufficiently that the burden is just not a problem anymore.

Summer time Editorial Intern

Alessandra Kaestner, a Chicago native, has all the time been serious about journalism. She remembers listening to NPR on daily basis earlier than faculty along with her mother and father and making an attempt 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 12 months and into her sophomore 12 months: the Cornell Each day Solar. She is majoring in psychology and philosophy and desires to discover regulation and journalism. Though she doesn’t have numerous background on this planet of automobiles, Alessandra is serious about increasing her information and gaining expertise. She couldn’t be extra excited to work with so many proficient individuals at Automobile and Driver.

Senior Editor

Regardless of their shared final identify, Greg Fink is just not associated to Ed “Huge Daddy” Roth’s notorious Rat Fink. Each Finks, nonetheless, are recognized for his or her love of automobiles, automotive 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 comparable to U.S. Information & World Report, The Huffington Publish, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend.