The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in battery thermal management is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), improved safety, efficiency, reliability, and affordability, and growing importance of technologies such as diamond like carbon (DLC) coating, multi-stage constant-current (MCC) charging, supercapacitor (SC) battery energy storage system, and pulse charging current (PCC). 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 Batteries in automotive: battery thermal management. 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 thermal management is a key innovation area in batteries
Battery thermal management refers to the techniques and methods used to regulate the temperature of batteries in order to optimize their performance, prolong their lifespan, and ensure their safety. It involves controlling the heat generation and dissipation within the battery system to maintain the battery cells within an optimal temperature range.
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 955 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of battery thermal management.
Key players in battery thermal management – 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 thermal management
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motor is one of the leading patent filers in battery thermal management. The company has patented a new battery thermal management system that combines liquid and air cooling to improve battery performance, durability, and safety. This innovative approach offers increased efficiency, improved reliability, and reduced size and weight. The wider adoption of this system could make electric vehicles more appealing while reducing emissions and extending battery lifespan. Some other key patent filers in this space include Hyundai Motor and Kia.
In terms of application diversity, Thunder Power Hong Kong leads the pack, while Dana and Gentherm stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Allison Transmission held the top position, followed by Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin and Gogoro.
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.
