Companies scramble to patent fuel-cell technologies
After a lull in the number of hydrogen fuel-cell related patents being filed, companies are now scrambling to protect advances in fuel-cell development. Patent activity began to grow almost exponentially about seven years ago, initially led by specialist fuel-cell developers, but subsequently by OEMs such as Toyota.
Fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) are still unlikely to be seen on the roads in great numbers before 2015 - 2020, making patents which expire in 20 years far less useful than they otherwise would be. But the massive R&D dollars required to move fuel-cell technology forward, and the potential sales that could result from a successful design, are motivating fuel-cell developers to try and protect their investment.
Fuel Cells Works reports a patent attorney studying the trends as saying that there are five areas of hydrogen fuel-cell development that must be worked on to achieve mass-production in FCVs:
- Reducing cost of the catalyst
- Onboard hydrogen storage
- Infrastructure development
- Reducing membrane cost
- Water management
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[Source: Fuel Cells Works]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Lee Harkness 10:42AM (3/12/2007)
The bulleted list left out the most important point: Repeal of the laws of physics and chemistry that render use of hydrogen to power cars insanely stupid.
"...if fuel-cell technology doesn't continue to push ahead aggressively, plug-in electric vehicles might just beat them to the punch."
EVs have already beat hydrogen fool cells to the 'punch'. There is no scenario for the use of hydrogen that can't be made safer, more efficient, greener, and more economical by leaving out the wasteful conversion of energy to hydrogen.
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