Toyota will allow royalty free use of 5680 fuel cell related patent licenses to spike the development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies.
At the ongoing 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Toyota announced that it will allow royalty free use of around 5680 patents and licenses relating to fuel cell technologies in a bid to boost the fuel cell industry by increasing the development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technology. The royalty free patents include 1970 related to fuel cell stacks, 3350 related to fuel cell system control technology, 290 related to high pressure hydrogen tanks and 70 related to hydrogen production and supply. The new fuel cell technologies were originally developed for the new Toyota Mirai FCV.
Furthermore, Toyota said that the fuel cell patents will be available to automakers who will produce and sell fuel cell vehicles as well as for suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fuelling stations. Even companies that deal into commercial transport like buses and construction equipment are covered to use the fuel cell patents. However, the patents related to fuel cell vehicles will be available for royalty free licenses until the end of 2020.
In return, Toyota has urged other companies developing similar technologies and using the company’s patents to share their fuel cell related patents for royalty free use. The first generation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are expected to launch between 2015 and 2020, and will require more collaborative efforts. By eliminating corporate boundaries, the automaker believes that the speed of developing new technologies can be increased in order to move into future mobility at a faster pace for an environment friendly future.
While Toyota has been developing new technologies for future mobility, the company has fallen short of meeting its yearend goals. One of the key players in the Chinese market, Toyota failed to meet its target of selling 1.1 million vehicles in 2014. The Japanese auto giant sold 1.03 million vehicles in 2014 in China, up by 12.5 percent compared to 2013, while sales in December were 1,25,000 units up which is 15.3 percent compared to the same month in 2013. Operating through two joint ventures with China FAW Group Corp and Guangzhou Automobile Group, Toyota now aims to accomplish the 1.1 million sales figure in 2015.
