The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in battery pack swapping is driven by increasing demand and government support for electric vehicles (EVs), and growing importance of technologies such as robotic systems, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and vehicle-to-grid systems. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Batteries in automotive: battery pack swapping. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Battery pack swapping is a key innovation area in batteries
Battery pack swapping refers to the process of replacing a depleted battery pack with a fully charged one. This could be done manually or through automation, where the process is performed by machines.
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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of battery pack swapping.
Key players in battery pack swapping – 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 battery pack swapping
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motor is one of the leading patent filers in battery pack swapping. The company's robotic arm-based system is expected to revolutionize the industry by reducing emissions and operating costs. The system's widespread adoption could lead to increased convenience, reduced range anxiety, extended battery lifespan, reduced emissions, and lower operating costs, impacting the automotive industry and the environment. Some other key patent filers in this space include Honda Motor and Hyundai Motor.
In terms of application diversity, BYD leads the pack, while LG and Thunder Power Hong stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sumitomo held the top position, followed by Yamaha Motor and Sandvik.
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.
