The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in dual-drive electric propulsion is driven by increased demand for fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, advancements in battery technology, power electronics, and control systems. The rising demand for electric vehicles, government funding for research and development, and partnerships between automakers and suppliers are further driving innovation. Silicon carbide (SiC) power electronics, integrated electric motors and gearboxes, torque vectoring control systems, and wireless charging systems are key technologies in dual-drive electric propulsion 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: dual-drive electric propulsion. 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 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
Dual-drive electric propulsion is a key innovation area in automotive
Dual-drive electric propulsion refers to a type of electric propulsion system that uses more than one electric motor to power a vehicle.
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 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of dual-drive electric propulsion.
Key players in dual-drive electric propulsion – 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 dual-drive electric propulsion
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Honda Motor is the leading patent filer in dual-drive electric propulsion for the automotive industry. One of their latest patents is for a system and method for controlling torque distribution in an electric vehicle. This system can optimize torque distribution for different driving conditions, such as accelerating, cornering, and braking. Some other key patent filers in this space are Kubota and Toyota Motor
In terms of application diversity, Prime Planet Energy & Solutions leads the pack, while Proterra and Sandvik stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Proterra held the top position, followed by Nikola and Radio Flyer.
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.
