The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in electrode active materials is driven by the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), consumer electronics, and grid-scale energy storage to ensure improved stability, energy density, and durability. 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: electrode active materials. 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.
Electrode active materials is a key innovation area in batteries
Electrode active materials in Li-ion batteries refer to the materials used in the electrodes of these batteries to store energy through the intercalation and de-intercalation of lithium ions during charging and discharging. These materials need to have high energy density, excellent cycling stability, high-rate capability, and low cost to improve the overall performance and reduce the cost of Li-ion batteries.
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 electrode active materials.
Key players in electrode active materials – 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 electrode active materials
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
LG Chem is one of the leading patent filers in lithium-ion battery electrode active materials. It has patented a new material coated with lithium phosphate (LiPO4), which offers improved stability and increased energy density and power density, making it a promising candidate for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and grid-scale energy storage. Some other key patent filers in this space include Murata and Sony.
In terms of application diversity, Mitsui Mining leads the pack, while GS Yuasa and Brookfield Asset Management stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Umicore held the top position, followed by Commonwealth Scientific and Furukawa.
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.
