The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing the overall performance, and user experience, and growing importance of technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) communication, machine learning algorithms, and connected vehicle 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: HEV predictive energy 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.
HEV predictive energy management is a key innovation area in electric vehicles
HEV predictive energy management involves the use of control systems and methods to optimize the management of energy in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The control systems use predictive algorithms to manage energy consumption in the vehicle and optimize the use of the electric and combustion engines.
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 HEV predictive energy management.
Key players in HEV predictive energy 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 HEV predictive energy management
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motor (Toyota) is the leading patent filer in HEV predictive energy management. Toyota's predictive energy management systems have integrated route-based optimization, using GPS and map data to anticipate road conditions and gradients. This information is used to determine when and how electric power is deployed, maximizing efficiency for the entire journey. Hyundai Motor and Nissan Motor are some of the other prominent patent filers in HEV predictive energy management.
In terms of application diversity, Tortoise Acquisition leads the pack, while Dana and Honda Motor stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Dana held the top position, followed by Allison Transmission and Hitachi.
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.
