A MAJOR car brand has outlined plans to add full-size TV screens to future EVs.
Ford, which wants to beef up its creative designs, has also considered turning dashboards into tables in an attempt to combat billing wait times.
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Patent drawings raised by the American manufacturer reveal how they seek to optimize the use of the front trunk in electric vehicles.
Without the need for an engine, Ford is keen to make use of all the space it has left.
The diagrams, revealed by Superior equipmentshow a “frunk” workspace complete with standing desk, a frunk table and a frunk workstation where tools can be docked.
The most attractive of all, however, is a retractable screen, where a projector can be fixed to the edge of the hood.
The progressive plans are Ford’s response to addressing long wait times when charging its electric vehicles.
While the company is particularly proud of its Mustang-style electric SUV and F-150 Lightning electric truck, it’s no secret that charging times are painfully long.
Last year, for example, two social media stars who drove a £43,000 Ford Mustang EV for 1,600 miles found it added hours to their journey.
They encountered their first problem at the first charging station they found, where the “fast charging” point, capable of charging 150 kW per hour, only charged 10 kW per hour.
At this speed, it can take more than seven hours to fill the car’s battery.
Ford is now hoping that the inclusion of a desk, workstation and, of course, a retractable TV screen will make things more bearable for drivers.
However, it’s not just the dashboard where adaptations can be made, with Ford also considering the inclusion of fold-out panels and rails built into the dashboard to create a removable workspace.
In one of the proposed configurations first revealed by Motor Authoritythe steering wheel would fold down, with the table taking its place just in front of the instrument panel.
The app also shows a version of the table that folds out from the center console, with a leg to keep it stable.
The table can also be deployed on the passenger side dashboard.
If they decide to implement one of these strategies, Ford still intends to preserve interior space when the table is not in use.
This comes as Ford considers restricting combustion engine production in the UK to boost EV sales and avoid significant fines.
Martin Sander, general manager of Ford’s European Electric Car Division, has warned against the UK government’s new electric vehicle rules coming out this year – and highlighted the problems it will pose for car brands.
And the Ford Transit boss has revealed why this is the van’s biggest year yet with the launch of six new models.
All sizes of Transit are gaining attention this year, and there are now eight types of Ranger pickups.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
