Faraday Future has secured a U.S. patent for a range-extending hybrid transmission system, U.S. Patent No. 12,630,004, which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued in May 2026 with 13 claims. The patent was granted to Future AIHER, the company subsidiary developing AI-driven range-extender systems for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), and covers a transmission that decouples the engine, generator-motor, and drive wheels to allow multiple drive modes. According to the company, the design enables range extension with lighter hybridization while reducing overall powertrain complexity.
Highlights
- U.S. Patent No. 12,630,004, “Range-Extending Hybrid Transmission System,” was issued in May 2026 with 13 claims, from an application filed in June 2025.
- The patent is held by Future AIHER, FF’s hybrid range-extender subsidiary launched in March 2025.
- The architecture decouples the engine, generator-motor, and drive wheels, letting all power sources contribute concurrently or independently.
- FF is targeting the technology for its FX Super One and future FX models, with AIHER hybrid deliveries projected 9 to 12 months after financing closes.
What the Patent Covers
The patent describes a transmission built around a first rotary power source, a generator-motor, a differential, and the driving wheels. Its core elements include:
- First shaft and clutch: a first shaft extends from the rotary power source and carries a first clutch, with a second clutch spaced apart from it.
- Generator-motor: connected either to the first shaft or to a second shaft that is mechanically linked to the first shaft and/or the second clutch.
- Third shaft: connected to the differential and mechanically linked to the first shaft and/or the second clutch.
This configuration decouples the engine, generator-motor, and drive wheels, allowing the power sources to drive the vehicle simultaneously or separately.
How It Differs From Conventional Hybrids
The company frames the design as a response to limitations it sees in current plug-in hybrids, citing weak power-output response, insufficient performance, poor drivability, and high overall vehicle cost. Complex mechanical layouts, FF says, can also weigh on handling and reliability. By simplifying the driveline and decoupling its main elements, the company describes the system as delivering “strong range extension with weak hybridization” — prioritizing the range-extender function while keeping a supporting hybrid drive. The approach builds on earlier patent applications Future AIHER filed for its AI hybrid extended-range systems.
Future AIHER and the FX Lineup
Future AIHER, which FF describes as the world’s first AI hybrid extended-range electric powertrain system company, focuses on range-extender systems for EREVs and is developing two potential flagship products: a super AI hybrid extended-range system (AIHER) and a super AI extended-range system. The company says the AIHER architecture is particularly suited to extreme-cold regions such as the U.S. East Coast.
“This patent grant is central to FF’s vision of intelligent mobility,” said YT Jia, Founder and CEO of Faraday Future. “Extended range hybrid technologies represent a pivotal extension of our mission—bringing high-performance, AI-enhanced powertrains to our FF and future FX series models, while offering critical customer features like longer driving range and reduced mechanical complexity.”
Super One Delivery Timeline
FF has said the first batch of mass-production FX Super One deliveries will be either the 800V battery-electric model or the AIHER hybrid, a plan it reaffirmed when it paused the earlier 400V program. Both timelines are contingent on the company securing financing sufficient to support mass production.
| Model | Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800V BEV | 6–9 months | 12–15 months | 21–24 months |
| AIHER hybrid | 9–12 months | 21–24 months | 24–28 months |
The phase ranges are measured from the point financing closes, not from a fixed calendar date.
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