The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in electric vehicle (EV) charger docking is driven by EV market growth, safety and compliance, and growing importance of technologies such as digital twin and battery swapping technologies. 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 Electric vehicles in automotive: EV charger dockingBuy 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.

EV charger docking is a key innovation area in electric vehicles

EV charger docking refers to the connection of a charging station or cable with an electric vehicle to charge the vehicle’s battery.

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 EV charger docking.

Key players in EV charger docking – 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 EV charger docking

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Mercedes-Benz Group 17 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Motors 15 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 195 Unlock Company Profile
TE Connectivity 206 Unlock Company Profile
ABB 60 Unlock Company Profile
Phoenix Contact 27 Unlock Company Profile
Tokai Rika 30 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch Stiftung 36 Unlock Company Profile
BYD 19 Unlock Company Profile
Zhejiang Geely 17 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor 78 Unlock Company Profile
RWE 21 Unlock Company Profile
Aptiv 67 Unlock Company Profile
Nissan Motor 42 Unlock Company Profile
Lear 38 Unlock Company Profile
Schneider Electric 16 Unlock Company Profile
Renault 29 Unlock Company Profile
Honda Motor 37 Unlock Company Profile
Panasonic 46 Unlock Company Profile
Legrand 24 Unlock Company Profile
LS Electric 21 Unlock Company Profile
Porsche Automobil 228 Unlock Company Profile
General Motors 26 Unlock Company Profile
Bayerische Motoren Werke 46 Unlock Company Profile
Tesla 17 Unlock Company Profile
Yazaki 231 Unlock Company Profile
Kia 54 Unlock Company Profile
NEC 46 Unlock Company Profile
Sumitomo Electric Industries 209 Unlock Company Profile
Ford Motor 100 Unlock Company Profile
Hirschmann Automotive 16 Unlock Company Profile
Phoenix Contact E-Mobility 205 Unlock Company Profile
Kiekert 41 Unlock Company Profile
Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho 21 Unlock Company Profile
Easee 25 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

Yazaki is one of the leading patent filers in EV charger docking. The company also introduced autonomous driving technologies. Yazaki’s EV charger docking technology helps to monitor battery levels and schedule charging sessions to minimize peak demand and reduce energy. The technology  also enhances safety by ensuring that the charging process is secure. Some other key patent filers in this space include Porsche Automobil and Sumitomo.

In terms of application diversity, Renault leads the pack, while General Motors and Daimler stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Easee held the top position, followed by Tesla and Legrand.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Electric Vehicles (EV).

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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.