GM Wins Clean Energy Patent Quarterly Crown

Clean Energy Patent Growth Index

by | Jan 7, 2014

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Clean Energy Patent Growth IndexGeneral Motors was granted the highest number of clean energy patents for the third quarter of 2013, taking the quarterly lead back from Toyota, according to Clean Energy Patent Growth Index’s most recent results.

The CEPGI, published quarterly by the Cleantech Group at Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti PC, has tracked the granting of patents in the clean energy sector since 2002 in the US. Results from the third quarter of 2013 show the CEPGI to have a value of 757 granted US patents, which are eight lower than the previous quarter and 41 lower than one year prior.

Hybrid/electric vehicle patents was a big winner in the third quarter — up 14 to 108 patents granted and up 27 compared to the same time period in 2012.

Seesawing back and forth, GM had 40 clean energy patents and retook the quarterly clean energy patent crown from Toyota, which had taken the quarterly crown from GM the quarter before. Hyundai (31) also topped Toyota in the third quarter coming in second to GM. Fuel Cells (25) and hybrid/electric vehicle patents (13) led the way for GM, which also uncharacteristically had two patents in solar technologies.

Hyundai had 17 fuel cell and 14 HEV patents, along with a solar patent. Toyota (27) also split its patents between fuel cells (20) and hybrid/electric vehicle patents (eight).

In October, GM and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center announced an expanded collaboration to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology. GM and TARDEC agreed to jointly test hydrogen fuel cell-relation materials and designs to evaluate their performance and durability before assembling them into full-scale fuel cell propulsion systems.

This was the second fuel-cell related announcement GM has made in 2013. In July, GM and Honda announced a long-term agreement to co-develop next-generation fuel cell system and hydrogen storage technologies. The companies also plan to work together on refueling infrastructure.

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