US 12,269,365 B2
Systems and methods for providing in-flight charging of electrified vehicles
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); James Baumbick, Northville, MI (US); Ryan J. O'Gorman, Beverly Hills, MI (US); Katherine Howard-Cone, Canton, MI (US); Paul Kenneth Dellock, Northville, MI (US); Peter Phung, Windsor (CA); and Annette Lynn Huebner, Highland, MI (US)
Assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/175,786.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258642 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B60L 53/66 (2019.01); B60D 1/14 (2006.01); B60D 1/62 (2006.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); B60L 53/18 (2019.01); B60L 53/30 (2019.01); B60L 53/36 (2019.01)
CPC B60L 53/665 (2019.02) [B60D 1/14 (2013.01); B60D 1/62 (2013.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.02); B60L 53/18 (2019.02); B60L 53/305 (2019.02); B60L 53/36 (2019.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle-to-vehicle in-flight energy transfer system, comprising:
a leading vehicle;
a trailing vehicle; and
a control module configured to:
determine whether a distance from the trailing vehicle to a charging station exceeds an estimated vehicle range of the trailing vehicle;
command transmission of an in-flight charging request from the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle when the distance exceeds the estimated vehicle range;
control a transfer of energy from the leading vehicle to the trailing vehicle during a first portion of an in-flight energy transfer event; and
control a transfer of energy from the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle in a manner that extends an available towing distance of the leading vehicle during a second portion of the in-flight energy transfer event.