The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in electric vehicle (EV) integrated thermal management is driven by battery efficiency, fast charging mechanism, artificial intelligence (AI), and growing importance of technologies such as integrated thermal management module (iTMM) and two-phase cooling system. . 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 integrated 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.
EV integrated thermal management is a key innovation area in electric vehicles
EV integrated thermal management refers to a system designed to control and regulate temperature and heat distribution within an electric vehicle. This is achieved through the use of technologies such as heat pumps, air conditioning systems, and various coolant and refrigerant circulation methods.
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 integrated thermal management.
Key players in EV integrated 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 EV integrated thermal management
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Hyundai Motor is one of the leading patent filers in EV integrated thermal management. It introduced Integrated Coolant Distribution·Supply Module technology, which is designed to operate with high efficiency, ensuring that the energy used for cooling or heating is managed effectively. It also distributes the cooling fluid to various components within the EV’s thermal management system. Some other key patent filers in this space include Kia Motors and Toyota Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Thunder Power Hong leads the pack, while United Technologies and Doowon Climate Control stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Brookfield held the top position, followed by Johnson Controls International and Thunder Power Hong Kong.
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.
