Toyota Opens Over Five Thousand Fuel Cell Patents

[Lexus II]

January 05, 2015
2015 CES - TMS SVP Bob Carter's speech

LAS VEGAS, (Jan. 5, 2015) – Toyota is opening the door to the hydrogen future, making available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty free. Announced today at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, this Toyota initiative will spur development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world.

Toyota will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the new Toyota Mirai. 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.




Toyota is giving their technology away for free to stimulate the growth of the hydrogen infrastructure.

[El Diablo Blanco]

They're only giving them away because they didn't work or are too costly.  If they were able to productize it they would have and made billions.  Japanese don't give shit away for free.

[MikMaq]

They're only giving them away because they didn't work or are too costly.  If they were able to productize it they would have and made billions.  Japanese don't give shit away for free.

I think it's more to it than that.

I think the auto industry is genuinely worried that people are gonna start driving less, for whatever reason.

Anything they can do to keep cars in demand they will do.

[Vince G, CSN MFT]

They're only giving them away because they didn't work or are too costly.  If they were able to productize it they would have and made billions.  Japanese don't give shit away for free.

Hydrogen is one of the most basic elements so its not costly if you have technology that works.  Solar Panels cost a lot of money but the end result is practically free power

[tonymctones]

blah blah blah, when is the next fucking supra going to come out already?

[Irongrip400]

Remember the Hindenburg

[Lexus II]

blah blah blah, when is the next fucking supra going to come out already?

Set to be released in 2017 and be offered with up to 400 hp!  

[Rambone]

Remember the Hindenburg Duff blimp

[tonymctones]

Set to be released in 2015 and be offered with up to 400 hp! 

no way in shit this comes out in 2015, the FT-1 was a concept car and they still have plenty of work to do to get it ready for production.

When the new BMW Z car comes out they will be close to releasing this one.

AND I WILL BUY ONE!!!

[Bevo]

 

[El Diablo Blanco]

Hydrogen is one of the most basic elements so its not costly if you have technology that works.  Solar Panels cost a lot of money but the end result is practically free power

Hydrogen is cheap but turning it into fuel in a manner that a car can use is a different story. Lots of details that are way too costly

[Lexus II]

The Mirai may be one of the ugliest cars ever, but the technology under it's skin is truly impressive.  Almost all other car manufacturers are trying to build their own fuel cell vehicles, so Toyota opening up their patents is a big deal. 

In the U.S., Toyota will charge $57,500 for the Mirai, which can travel 300 miles (483 kilometers) on a hydrogen tank that can be refilled in less than five minutes; But where to fill the tank?  A hydrogen infrastructure needs to be built.  That's where the opening of the patents comes in.  More fuel cell cars on the road, from more manufactures, will stimulate the growth of hydrogen filling stations.

Here's how it works.