Ferrari patents electrified sports car with a unique battery stack

Ferrari looks set to retain the feel of a mid-engined sports car, even as it plans to go down the electrification path.

First spotted by The Drive, new patent images published on the United States Patent And Trademark Office showcase an ‘electric or hybrid sport car’ with a huge mid-mounted battery pack where the engine of an internal-combustion Ferrari would generally be placed.

While there is a clear focus on chassis rigidity, the patent also shows how Ferrari is planning to have enough space to mount the batteries in its electric vehicles, with the first set for reveal in 2025.

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In addition, the filings demonstrate the use of multiple battery packs – such as a thinner unit under the cabin – sandwiched between the frame and a cover. In the patent, Ferrari also describes a hybrid setup that includes a front- or rear-mounted internal-combustion engine.

By angling the midship battery pack slightly upward, Ferrari says it will produce “negative lift” or downforce at the rear of the car. The positioning of the large battery is also said to allow for “an ideal exchange of heat with the platform”, meaning it will also assist with cooling.

Ferrari says the battery under the passenger compartment would be a cylindrical battery cell, while the large unit can accommodate "all types of cells, namely cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch cells."

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While the patents also hint at the design of an electric Ferrari, it is important to note patents rarely preview a production vehicle, with a greater focus on new technologies instead.

For instance, the patent has aesthetics similar to the current Ferrari range and exhaust tips reminiscent of V8 Ferrari models.

Last year, Ferrari CEO John Elkann said, “we are continuing to execute our electrification strategy in a highly disciplined way."

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"We are also very excited about our first all-electric Ferrari that we plan to unveil in 2025, and you can be sure this will be everything you dream the engineers and designers at Maranello can imagine for such a landmark in our history.”

The upcoming ​​Ferrari Purosangue crossover is expected to become the first EV from the Italian marque, providing a more acceptable introduction to a fully-electric vehicle for its customers.

However, these patents indicate how the idea of electric Ferrari is likely to extend beyond the new Purosangue and into its iconic range of sports cars.