Abstract:
Recently, automotive giant Stellantis received a patent for an innovative electric trailer device.
This design equips the trailer with an independent motor, battery and AI auxiliary control system, so that small cars with limited power are expected to have the ability to tow RVs, and may even change the reliance of traditional RV travel on high-horsepower pickup trucks.
According to Electrek, this patent was originally submitted in 2023, and Stellantis officially received U.S. patent number US 12779916 on November 3, 2026.
Unlike traditional trailers, the electric trailer designed by Stellantis does not rely solely on the towing vehicle for power, but has an independent drive system.
The device integrates a motor and battery, which can actively provide driving force during the vehicle towing process. It is also equipped with an energy recovery braking system to help recover the energy generated during vehicle deceleration.
What is more noteworthy is that this system also introduces AI-assisted control technology.
According to the patent description, the trailer is equipped with cameras, sensors and controllers, and adopts a four-wheel steering-by-wire system, which can assist in steering and traction control and reduce the risk of swings, instability, etc. when the trailer is driving.
In traditional towing scenarios, the heavier the trailer, the higher the requirements for the engine power, chassis strength and braking system of the towing vehicle. Therefore, small cars and ordinary electric vehicles are often unable to undertake the task of towing large RVs.
The core idea of Stellantis's design is to let the trailer take on part of the power output and control tasks, thereby reducing the burden on the towing vehicle.
Theoretically, micro electric cars, including the Fiat 500e, may also use this type of electric trailer to tow RVs in the future.
Of course, this technology is still some distance away from being put into the market. The current patent has not yet clarified the battery capacity, maximum load-bearing weight and actual endurance performance of the electric trailer, and no specific mass production plan has been announced.
Especially in complex scenarios such as high-speed driving, long-distance downhill and emergency braking, how to ensure coordinated control between the towing vehicle and the electric trailer is still a technical problem that needs to be solved.
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