The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in direct-drive mechanisms is driven by increased demand for fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs). These mechanisms offer benefits such as improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, improved performance, reduced weight and complexity, and reduced costs. Government funding, partnerships between automakers and suppliers, and increasing competition in the industry also contribute to the development of these innovative technologies. Magnetic gears, superconducting motors, wide-bandgap power electronics, and model-predictive control are key technologies in direct-drive mechanisms for the automotive industry. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: direct-drive mechanism. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Direct-drive mechanism is a key innovation area in automotive
Direct-drive mechanism refers to a type of wheel drive system where an electric motor and a transmission mechanism are integrated within a wheel hub assembly to directly power the wheel.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 295+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of direct-drive mechanism.
Key players in direct-drive mechanism – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to direct-drive mechanismn
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
NTT, Honda Motor, and NTN are some of the leading patent filers in direct-drive mechanisms for the automotive industry. These technologies offer advantages such as increased efficiency, lighter components, and responsiveness, and could be used in various applications. As direct-drive technology becomes more affordable, it is expected to revolutionize the industry.
In terms of application diversity, Airbus leads the pack, while Nidec and LG stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Nikola held the top position, followed by Airbus and QinetiQ Group.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
