Toronto, Ontario — Ford has filed a patent for a modular vehicle chassis that can be interchanged with a variety of vehicle sizes and types, with the intention of creating a more streamlined manufacturing process as well as to make it easier to detect issues with parts by establishing a greater use of uniformity.
According to the patent application–which was filed in December 2023 and published May 23rd, 2024–the vehicle chassis would specifically be designed “with interchangeable performance packages and related methods.”
The patent application further describes a uniform base frame that would be used while the end frames at each extremity would include the suspension and powertrain components responsible for determining the overall length and width of the vehicle.
Moreover, the patent suggests that the end frames could also be modular, with a single model being used for both a combustion engine vehicle and an electric vehicle.
This set-up would also allow different battery packs to be used without altering the surrounding architecture of the wheelhouses. To achieve this modular design, the patent notes that components would be joined using a combination of fasteners, chemical adhesives, press-fits or welds.
Ultimately, the goal of this patent is to help reduce manufacturing costs while also making it easier to detect issues with parts by establishing uniformity.
Click below to read the full patent application.
