Toyota Opens Up Its Fuel Cell Patent Vault

More than 5,600 fuel cell and related patents available for royalty free use.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jan. 5, 2015



2016 Toyota Mirai FCV - $499 per month/36 month lease ($57,500 retail) and free H2 for three years.



At CES this week, Toyota’s Bob Carter released bombshell as the company is accelerating the transition to a H2 fueled future by opening up thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty free to all OEMs.



Taking a note out of Tesla’s BEV playbook, Toyota will provide royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 FC 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.



The announcement represents the first time that Toyota has made its patents available free of charge and reflects the company’s aggressive support for developing an H2 based society.



This Toyota initiative builds on previous commitments, including substantial financial support for the development of an H2 refueling infrastructure in California and the northeastern United States.



In May 2014, Toyota announced a $7.3 million loan to FirstElement Fuels to support the operations and maintenance of 19 hydrogen fueling stations across California. In November 2014, Toyota announced a collaboration with Air Liquide to develop and supply a phased network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations targeted for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.



The hydrogen FC patents will be made available to automakers who will produce and sell FCVs, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fueling stations, through the initial market introduction period, anticipated to last until 2020. Companies working to develop and introduce FC busses 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.



Bob Carter, Senior VP of Automotive Operations at Toyota:

Quote:

“At Toyota, we believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen. The first generation H2 FCVs launched between 2015 and 2020 will be critical. By eliminating corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility economically.”

Today’s announcement covers only fuel cell-related patents wholly owned by Toyota. Patents related to fuel cell vehicles will be available for royalty-free licenses until the end of 2020. Patents for H2 production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration. As part of licensing agreements, Toyota will request, but will not require, that other companies share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty-free use.

2016 Toyota Mirai





At the Torrance H2 Refueling Facility just outside Toyota’s current U.S. HQ.

Companies interested in Toyota’s FC-related patents will negotiate individual contracts with Toyota. Additional details, including licensing terms and application process, are available upon request.

Toyota Opens Up Its Fuel Cell Patent Vault