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Ford is opening its portfolio of electrified vehicle technology
patents to competitive automakers to accelerate industry-wide research
and development of electrified vehicles
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In 2014, Ford filed for 400-plus electrified vehicle patents – more
than 20 percent of the total patents the company applied for last year
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Ford is set to hire an additional 200 electrified vehicle engineers
this year as the team moves into a newly dedicated facility – Ford
Engineering Laboratories – home to Henry Ford’s first laboratories
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
DEARBORN, Mich. -- (Business Wire)
Ford Motor Company is offering competitors access to its electrified
vehicle technology patents – a move to help accelerate industry-wide
research and development of electrified vehicles.
In 2014, Ford filed more than 400 patents dedicated to electrified
vehicle technologies. This is more than 20 percent of the patents the
company filed – totaling more than 2,000 applications.
“Innovation is our goal,” said Kevin Layden, director, Ford
Electrification Programs. “The way to provide the best technology is
through constant development and progress. By sharing our research with
other companies, we will accelerate the growth of electrified vehicle
technology and deliver even better products to customers.”
Ford Motor Company is a leader in this area – offering six hybrid or
fully electrified vehicles including Ford Focus Electric, Ford Fusion
Hybrid, Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Hybrid, Ford C-MAX
Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. In total, Ford has more
than 650 electrified vehicle patents and approximately 1,000 pending
patent applications on electrified vehicle technologies.
Ford’s innovations have resulted in acclaimed electrified vehicles on
the road today, but the company believes sharing its patented
technologies will promote faster development of future inventions as all
automakers look toward greater opportunities.
“As an industry, we need to collaborate while we continue to challenge
each other,” said Layden. “By sharing ideas, companies can solve bigger
challenges and help improve the industry.”
To access Ford’s patents and published patent applications, interested
parties can contact the company’s technology commercialization and
licensing office, or work through AutoHarvest – an automaker
collaborative innovation and licensing marketplace. AutoHarvest allows
members to showcase capabilities and technologies, then privately
connect with fellow inventors to explore technology and business
development opportunities of mutual interest. The patents would be
available for a fee.
“Ford helped launch AutoHarvest as a founding member to enable efficient
and transparent technology licensing across the automotive industry and
beyond,” said Bill Coughlin, president and CEO, Ford Global
Technologies, which manages intellectual property for Ford.
As part of Ford’s increased focus on new and innovative technologies,
the automaker is set to hire an additional 200 electrified vehicle
engineers this year as the team moves into a newly dedicated facility –
Ford Engineering Laboratories – home to Henry Ford’s first labs in
Dearborn.
Available Ford electrified vehicle patents
Here are some of Ford’s electrified vehicle patents available for
competitors to purchase:
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Method and Apparatus for Battery Charge Balancing, patent No.
US5764027: The patent covers passive cell balancing: discharging a
cell through a resistor to lower the state of charge to match other
cells. This innovation extends battery run time and overall life. This
is the first invention to enable battery balancing at any time,
instead of only while charging, and it enables the use of lithium-ion
batteries in electrified vehicles. It was invented long before
lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles became commonplace – truly ahead
of its time.
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Temperature Dependent Regenerative Brake System for Electric Vehicle,
patent No. US6275763: The technology works to maximize the amount of
energy recaptured in a hybrid vehicle through regenerative braking. By
improving the interplay between normal friction brakes and
regenerative braking during stopping at certain air temperatures, a
driver is able to recapture more energy than previously possible,
helping the motorist drive farther on a charge.
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Driving Behavior Feedback Interface, patent No. US8880290: The patent
provides a system and method for monitoring driver inputs such as
braking and accelerating, and vehicle parameters including energy
consumption to assess driving behavior. The feedback can be used to
coach future driving behavior that may translate into better long-term
driving habits and improve fuel economy. This technology also has
enabled drivers of non-electrified vehicles, such as a Ford Focus, to
develop better driving habits.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Michigan, manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 194,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the
company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About AutoHarvest
AutoHarvest Foundation, a 501(C)3 nonprofit, is a unique innovation
ecosystem led by some of the most highly respected figures in the
automotive and manufacturing industries. In 2012, AutoHarvest.org was
launched as the world’s only truly neutral and global on-line meeting
place for innovators of all types with an interest in advanced
manufacturing. This system allows users of all types to showcase
capabilities, technologies and needs system-wide and then privately
connect with fellow inventors and commercial entities to explore
technology and business development opportunities of mutual interest.
The AutoHarvest interest group consists of over 250 prominent R&D and
manufacturing organizations from industry, government and academia. For
more information visit: www.autoharvest.org.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150527006635/en/
Contacts:
Ford North America
Aaron Miller, 313.845.4467
amill226@ford.com
or
Ford
North America
John Cangany, 313.317.7691
jcangany@ford.com
or
Ford
North America
Chris Danowski, 313.590.5255
cdanowsk@ford.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
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