Toyota is releasing thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty free to help spur the development of the technology globally – and is asking other big players to do the same.
The carmaker announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas it would invite royalty free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the new Mirai.
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The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell system software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.
Bob Carter, automotive operations chief at Toyota Motor Sales, USA, said: “We believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen. The first generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia and energy providers. By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically.”
Toyota has a long history of opening its intellectual properties through collaboration and was instrumental in facilitating the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by licensing related patents. The latest announcement is the first time it has made its patents available free of charge.
The initiative builds on previous commitments from the company, including substantial financial support for the development of a hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in California and the north eastern United States. In May 2014, Toyota announced a US$7.3m loan to FirstElement Fuels to support the operations and maintenance of 19 hydrogen fuelling stations across California. In November 2014, it announced a collaboration with Air Liquide to develop and supply a phased network of 12 hydrogen stations targeted for New York.
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By GlobalDataFuel cell patents will be made available to automakers planning to produce and sell fuel cell vehicles, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fuelling stations, through the initial market introduction period, anticipated to last until 2020.
Companies working to develop and introduce fuel cell buses and industrial equipment, such as forklifts, are also covered. Requests from parts suppliers and companies looking to adapt fuel cell technology outside of the transportation sector will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
The announcement covers only fuel cell-related patents wholly owned by Toyota. Patents related to fuel cell vehicles will be available for royalty-free licences until the end of 2020. Patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited period. As part of licensing agreements, Toyota is asking other companies to share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty free use.
