While car makers often file wacky-sounding patents, like a fragrance system that can also dispense tear gas, this one isn't so weird.
That may not sound like a great engineering insight that revolutionizes transportation in America. But it might be the start of something.
Tesla, TSLA not kidding you here, holds a patent for a laser windshield cleaning system. Toyota TM holds a patent for an in-car fragrance system that can also dispense tear gas for self-defense. Ford F holds a patent for a conveyor belt that brings items from the trunk to the front seat. Engineers can scale it up or down to build vehicles as large as the Chevy Silverado EV and as small as the Chevy Blazer EV. The design will underlay an entire generation of GM vehicles. It’s successful enough that even Honda plans to use it for its first dedicated EV, the upcoming Honda HMC Prologue.