The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in fluid battery cooling is driven by the increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs), rising demand for longer-range, high-performance EVs, increasing deployment of fast-charging infrastructure, and growing importance of technologies such as thermal management systems and heat exchangers. 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 Innovation in automotive: fluid battery cooling. 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, integrated multi-motor drivetrains, electric power steering (EPS), and post-collision handling are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Variable compression engines, V2V distance monitoring, and turbocharger shaft bearings are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and plasma-jet ignition, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Fluid battery cooling is a key innovation area in automotive
Fluid battery cooling refers to the use of a liquid coolant to manage and regulate the temperature of batteries in electric vehicles. This cooling system helps to maintain the optimal temperature range for battery performance and longevity, preventing overheating and improving overall efficiency.
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 fluid battery cooling.
Key players in fluid battery cooling – 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 fluid battery cooling
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Hyundai Motor is one of the leading patent filers in fluid battery cooling. The company’s latest innovation in fluid battery cooling is a system that uses a special fluid to cool the batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). This system is more efficient than traditional air-cooling systems, and can help to extend the range of EVs. Some other key patent filers in this space include Kia, Ford Motor, and Toyota Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Thunder Power Hong Kong leads the pack, while Renault and Ferrari stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Kubota held the top position, followed by Thunder Power Hong Kong and Suzuki Motor.
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.
