Ford has filed for a new patent showing a multi-use tailgate on the front end of a truck, with the possibility of putting a whole television inside the tailgate. It seems likely to apply to the upcoming Fathom.
Ford has been preparing its Fathom electric truck for a few years now, even establishing a “skunkworks” development center to revolutionize its manufacturing methods. (We took a tour of the design studio this May, but didn’t get to see the truck… yet).
The truck is a make or break moment for the company, as the US auto industry tries (well… sort of) to find a way to catch up with Chinese rivals that are eating its lunch internationally… and will inevitably come to the US eventually.
We’re finally getting more information about the truck, as t was spied at a Tesla Supercharger. Then we learned last month that the truck would be called Fathom and start just under $30k, which is the right price point for a truck that Ford wants to sell 100k of in the first year. But sightings so far have all been camouflaged.
Now we’re learning more about the car’s camouflaged areas, thanks to a patent that just hit the US patent office yesterday.
It was first noticed by a user on fathomforum.com. The patent is available on USPTO’s search site under patent number 12,741,514, and is titled “Vehicle cargo space access providing method.”
The patent specifically refers to “an electrified vehicle,” adding further evidence that it is aimed at the Fathom. Plus, the drawing just kinda looks like one. Here are some of the images from the patent:
EVs have the benefit of no engine under the front hood, which means many EVs have a small front trunk, or “frunk,” where you can put cargo. Everyone uses this space in a different way, but it’s nice extra storage to have.
But Ford’s patent shows a pretty innovative front trunk which functions more as a front tailgate than the small frunks we’ve come accustomed to in EVs.
Not only does it provide a large, flat entry surface like the F-150 Lightning does, but the Fathom looks like it will have even more capabilities.
The patent images show a tailgate-like fold-out section, offering more flat work space for whatever purpose you might want that for. This could be for setting tools down, cooking, serving drinks, sitting, or any of the other things people often use truck tailgates for.
The hood can still open up, offering a tall area, but the hood can also be closed while the tailgate is down, giving you an upper and a lower surface to work with.
Further, the top surface of the hood is listed as being swappable, such that you could replace it with a metal or a polymer surface, so you can put things on the hood without scratching your truck’s paint. We’re not sure if there’s a dedicated space in the vehicle to store the swappable surfaces, but it seems like a neat idea.
Finally, the patent suggests the ability to use the space to put a television in. The TV would be able to fold down when the trunk is closed. This could be used for tailgate parties, camping and so on. And the nice thing is, since the truck will have a large battery, running the TV all day long should be no problem.
All in all, it seems like some pretty cool new uses for frunk space which we haven’t seen before on EVs – or which have required do-it-yourself modifications.
What would you use the Fathom’s frunk area for, if it turns out like this patent suggests? Let us know in the comments.
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