Japan fills the most fuel cell patent applications
The Japanese are taking fuel cells very seriously and here's a figure that confirms this: two out of three fuel cell patent applications from 1998 to 2004 were made by Japanese companies (total patents were 32,209). Compared to the US and Europe, Japan filed 2.5 times more patents than the US and 2.9 times more than Europeans.
More than 15 percent of the filings were made by three Japanese auto manufacturers, Nissan, Toyota and Honda, which filed 1,980, 1,546 and 1,526 applications, respectively.
Regarding the type of technology, most of the applications featured proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (81-83 percent), then solid-oxide fuel cells (10-12 percent) and direct methanol fuel cells (5-7 percent). The three territories in which the study was made showed similar percentages.
Japan is really believing in the hydrogen-based society and is really betting on having fuel cell vehicles in widespread use by 2030. But it's more than cars that are potential users of fuel cell technology; fuel cells can be used for household co-generation systems and portable electronics or for projects that are more fun.
Related:
[Source: Japan for Sustainability]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kardax 6:51PM (10/17/2007)
If they're filing those patents now, they'll all be expired by the time we get to the "widespread use" part in 2030...
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mike 7:44PM (10/17/2007)
Plug-in's make Hydro cars obsolete.
They should we working on capacitors, solar panels and batteries.
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philmcneal 11:54PM (10/17/2007)
i thought the Japanese's were smarter than that, although they just realize now that batteries will be the new wave of transportation, must be heavily influenced by the American subsidize since they were afraid that the Americans one day would out pace them in the fuel cell race. Kind of what Toyota did to develop the Prius because they were in fear that the big three had something similar up their sleeve (but in the end it turns out the big three was laughing at Toyota's efforts).
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Chris M 1:45AM (10/18/2007)
You may have something there... The US automakers are only interested because the Government sponsors all the H2 research, and it also got the CARB board to withdraw the ZEV mandate. I doubt they are seriously considering actually manufacturing them.
The Japanese automakers are afraid of being left behind. They weren't allowed to join the "partnership for Next Generation Vehicles" in developing high milage hybrids, so they did their own development, not realizing that the "PNGV" program was a sham. Ironically, both Toyota and Honda have had big success with thier hybrids, and Detroit is desperately trying to catch up.
Maybe they are hoping the same happens with H2, but I rather doubt that. H2 is a poor automotive fuel, fuel cells are expensive, batteries are much more efficient and less expensive.
Reply
Chris M 1:45AM (10/18/2007)
You may have something there... The US automakers are only interested because the Government sponsors all the H2 research, and it also got the CARB board to withdraw the ZEV mandate. I doubt they are seriously considering actually manufacturing them.
The Japanese automakers are afraid of being left behind. They weren't allowed to join the "partnership for Next Generation Vehicles" in developing high milage hybrids, so they did their own development, not realizing that the "PNGV" program was a sham. Ironically, both Toyota and Honda have had big success with thier hybrids, and Detroit is desperately trying to catch up.
Maybe they are hoping the same happens with H2, but I rather doubt that. H2 is a poor automotive fuel, fuel cells are expensive, batteries are much more efficient and less expensive.
Reply