Toyota to offer royalty free use of 5,680 fuel cell patents

Toyota is taking a page from the Tesla and announcing plans to offer other automakers and stakeholders the royalty free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents.

Designed to spur the "development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world," the move will give rival companies access to 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 related to hydrogen production and supply.

In a statement, Toyota Motor Sales USA Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations Bob Carter said ???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.??? He added, "... we believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen."