Featured Toyota to give royalty-free access to hybrid-vehicle patents

There has been sharing in the past - I understand the FORD HD-10 and HF-35 were made by Aisan which is owned by TOYOTA. Though, the 4th Gen PRIUS reverted to Ford's layout of HF-35. There has been some similarities, and I assume sharing with Chrysler Pacifica.

 

Toyota has been licensing it's "Hybrid Synergy Drive" technology since day 1.
The takeaway with this announcement is "Royalty Free".

 

"Since pioneering the Prius in 1997, Toyota has sold more than 13 million hybrids, which twin a conventional gasoline engine and electric motor, saving fuel by capturing energy during coasting and breaking and using it to power the motor."

Not true for at least 80% or all Toyota hybrids. The engine is a (Otto-modified) Atkinson cycle, with very good efficiencies and low emissions.

 

I'd like to see them drop the paywall to their Repair Manuals. It might be a net benefit for all? For one thing, if it sees the light of day, more people reading it, more feedback, maybe they'll make it more readable. Who knows.

 

an interesting strategy to try and stall bev's, but in my mind: FAIL

no one is going to be interested in investing in a new hybrid, even with free technology, given the current economic and geopolitical climate.

if most manufacturers are truly on the road to bev development, the clock won't be turned back, and toyota will be forced king and screaming into the new world of fossil free fueled cars.

 

Keep in mind that many of the pre 1999 patents have expired, anyway,

 

I don't see it as as strategy to stall bevs, many manufacturers need these technologies to lower their average fuel consumption.

 

The one comment to the article summed it up.
"Too late."

Toyota is hoping to extend their hybrid investment out some more, but nobody wants or needs Toyota specific technology at this point.

Ford, GM, and Honda already have their own power-split hybrid systems. Ford took everything in house in part, because of supply issues they had with Aisin, so I don't see them being keen on going back. The other two are different enough that there is little advantage to going to Toyota's suppliers.

Subaru and Mazda already have agreements and partnerships in place with Toyota.

But nearly everyone else is opting for a parallel system. Honda, Hyunda/Kia, VW, and Ford all have one. Nissan might for power hybrids, but they are also going with a series hybrid system.

Europe is poised to have mild hybrids become standard, which already has multiple companies working on them. There is also decent infrastructure in place for plug ins.
IIRC, in the next 5 years, cars will have to be at least a mild hybrid in order to sell in China. Some may take Toyota up on this offer to access China, but BEVs are easier to do, and a manufacturer doesn't have to sell very many of them to improve their fleet consumption average.

 

Beg to disagree. Mild hybrids are not required to be standard, corporate/fleet averages are. Also mild hybrids don't give much better fuel consumption.
Regarding infrastructure, it does exist...I would classify as decent while EV/PHEVs share don't grow exponencially.

 

I didn't mean to imply that mild hybrids were going to be required in Europe. I'm saying fuel consumption, plus prices, and emission regulations are going to push the market to making them standard there.

A mild hybrid can never match a full one in fuel economy, but they are much cheaper. This is going to vary with specific market details, but having mild hybrids be near standard hybrid equipment has the potential to reduce over all fuel use than having traditional ICEs be the norm with full hybrids being an option. Once the higher voltage system is in place, things like preheaters for catalytic converters become possible.

 

Toyota opens patents to help save hybrid cars, but it won't work - Electrek

 

Very interesting stuff!

Thank you once again for the share Marine.

I guess I can start searching through Google Patent and see what pops up. Or set up an email notification system

 

the comments are tremendous!

 

Light Duty Electric Drive Vehicles Monthly Sales Updates | Argonne National Laboratory

In the US and likely north america Plug-in sales exceeded hybrid sales in 2018 361,307 to 343,219. Likewise in China plug-ins reached 4% in 2018 while hybrids just don't sell very well. These are the largest two markets.

For the US market the availability of these patents really won't make any difference as GM, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai have there own systems. This may help some chinese companies make hybrids and help toyota push hybrids there, but the government is firmly behind plug-ins.

I don't think it will make any difference at all in the largest hybrid market as honda already has a competing technology and Nissan appers to be pushing plug-ins.

Where this may help is in Europe as the european automakers appear to be behind in hybrid tech. It is likely too late though as they are all investing in plug-ins. Still its a good move.

 

Royalty-free does not mean free. They could be hoping to be paid for consulting and possibly share parts, such as batteries.

Mike

 

Know your audience... which this particular media source does. They publish articles that draw lots of attention... same thing we've seen since the very beginning with Prius.

 

overwhelming dismissive and cynical comments - seems to be a theme with prius owners? it seems
Some are intriguing
some are brilliant


and sure enough, it caused a stir

 

I thought the BEV by definition is an electrified vehicle. Toyota gave an example list but did not say it excluded EVs, or did I just miss that?

EDIT: Here is the original press release.

Toyota Promotes Global Vehicle Electrification by Providing Nearly 24,000 Licenses Royalty-Free | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

 

Toyota's hoping to become a supplier of these systems.