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Toyota Shares 24,000 Hybrid Patents for Free

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Toyota HEV Engine
Photo: Toyota

In an effort to advanced sustainable mobility around the world, Toyota has announced it will grant royalty-free licenses on 23,740 patents for electrification-related vehicle technologies. This followed Toyota’s 2015 decision to offer 5,680 patents related to its fuel cell electric vehicles.

What’s more, the automaker will even provide technical support to other manufacturers that develop and sell electrified vehicles using Toyota powertrain technologies, including motors, batteries, control ECUs, control units and other electrification systems — this time, however, for a fee.

The patents will be available until 2030 and cover a vast range of applications that have helped Toyota become one of the leaders in hybrid technology today.


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The Japanese automaker believes that sharing its patents will free up some of the time, money, and other resources the world needs to develop sustainable mobility.

“By granting royalty-free patents and providing technical support on its vehicle electrification systems, Toyota aims to help further promote the widespread use of electrified vehicles, and in so doing, help governments, automakers, and society at large accomplish goals related to climate change,” the automaker said in a statement.

Toyota executive vice president Shigeki Terashi says the company was also spurred on by a “high volume of inquiries” it received about its vehicle electrification systems. “We believe that now is the time for cooperation,” he said. “If the number of electrified vehicles accelerates significantly in the next 10 years, they will become standard, and we hope to play a role in supporting that process.”

However, given that the automotive industry currently sees hybrid technology as a bridge to full electrification, it remains to be seen just how many takers Toyota will get.


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