Toyota Provides Its Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Technology For Free To Other Automakers - For A Better Future!

The Japanese automaker put its 5,680 fuel cell and related patents available for royalty free use until 2020

Today at the 2015 CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Toyota announced that it will make its 5600+ hydrogen-fuel-cell related patents available for royalty free use to other automakers until the end of 2020 (patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration). Toyota's initiative will spur conjunctive development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world, for a greener future.

The Japanese automaker recently launched one of the most advanced fuel cell vehicles - Toyota Mirai. The car's advance technologies would be very beneficial for other automakers. Talking about the patents, 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.

“At Toyota, we believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen,” - Bob Carter

Bob Carter, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc, stated, “The first generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia and energy providers. By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically.”

Toyota also provided financial support for the development of hydrogen fuel filling infrastructure in California and the north eastern United States. Furthermore, in May 2014, the automaker announced a whooping loan amount of $7.3 million to FirstElement Fuels to support the operations maintenance of 19 hydrogen fuelling stations across California. Later in November 2014, Toyota declared 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.