With the mounting threat of climate change and global warming, enabling EV production is a crucial step that governments worldwide are taking a bet on to reduce their carbon footprints. With the EU’s EV-only by 2035 mandate, auto manufacturers are scrambling to electrify their lineups. However, a large issue with maintaining profitability is through patenting the elements of their electrification pushes: from Tesla’s patented chargers to simulated engine noises, the patents surrounding EV tech are essential to maintaining manufacturers’ position in the automotive industry.
Patents Surrounding Charging
Charging software and hardware play a large role in making EVs accessible. While gas pumps have universal compatibility with combustion-driven cars, electric charging requires a large amount of software and hardware compatibility. Issues with software alongside exclusivity of hardware can make electric charging a hassle for all EV users, and can make driving an EV extremely impractical. The key to democratizing access to charging is through patent management for these technologies.
For example, Tesla's supercharger network is not universally compatible with other EV brands due to proprietary technology and patents . This exclusivity creates challenges for other manufacturers and consumers, who may find it difficult to access charging infrastructure. Effective patent management could lead to standardization, making EV charging more accessible and promoting wider adoption of electric vehicles.
Patents Surrounding Operations
The other features of EVs, while they may seem to be aesthetic, can be key to making them safe vehicles realistic for widespread use. For instance, sound production is critical for pedestrian safety. Without a way for EVs to produce simulated engine noises that are correlated with vehicle speed and stopping, pedestrians would be much more likely to not notice an EV and be hit by one.
Stellantis, for example, has patented technology to simulate traditional muscle car sounds for its electric vehicles . Toyota has developed a 14-speed manual transmission for EVs to enhance the driving experience . These patents not only enhance the appeal and safety of EVs but also establish these manufacturers as leaders in the EV market.
To manage these patents, especially ones that encompass areas from design to functionality, effective patent management is required. With improper monitoring of expiration, prior art, or infringement, situations such as Tesla’s infringement suit on 5G-enabled vehicles can occur. Companies such as Tesla with formidable amounts of capital may be able to put the legal power behind these suits to conclude them, but many upstarts do not have this financial power. Moreover, such suits would be likely to not occur with the right utilization of technology. With security and analysis features, software such as patlytics.ai presents a bundled software solution that enables IP lawyers to maximize their value-add for clients and enables companies to continue innovating without running into legal blockades that can destroy their businesses.
