The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need to reduce the negative effects of batteries on society and the environment, and the growing importance of technologies such as electrification and autonomous vehicles. 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 Batteries in automotive: niobium electrode batteries. 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.
Niobium electrode batteries is a key innovation area in batteries
Niobium electrode batteries are attained by surface-treating an electrode including an active material, a conducting agent, and a binder with niobium oxide, which has high electric conductivity. Niobium oxide enables to prevent the decrease in the capacity of the electrode even when the active material has low conductivity. It also helps in improving the initial capacity of the electrode as it enhances the intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions and enables them to flow easily during charging and discharging.
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 145 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of niobium electrode batteries.
Key players in niobium electrode batteries – 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 niobium electrode batteries
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toshiba is the leading patent filer in niobium electrode batteries. Toshiba’s niobium electrode batteries achieve better performance, fast charging capabilities, and longer durability and at the same time maintain safety as a number one priority. The batteries are being used as a dopant and as a coating material to develop cobalt-reduced or cobalt-free, lithium-rich, and manganese-based new cathodes with higher performance, improved electronic conductivity, and longer-term stability. Other leading companies innovating in this technology domain are Panasonic, Toyota Motor, and Echion Technologies.
In terms of application diversity, Panasonic held the top position, while Toyota Motor and Echion Technologies stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Semiconductor Energy Laboratory leads the pack, followed by Sumitomo Metal Mining and Echion Technologies.
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.
