Ford HEV to Still Incorporate 100 Unique Patents Despite Toyota Parts Supply
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, or so the age-old saying goes. On the subject, Ford Motor Co. will be incorporating some components from Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid gasoline-electric engine technology in its upcoming HEVs.
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| By using Toyota's HEV components, Ford will get the leg up on the competition and be able to bring their new Escape Hybrid to market quicker. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
Toyota is the world leader in full-hybrid systems, as used in its Prius HEV, more sophisticated than the partial systems used by Honda. Toyota's alignment with Ford, which has had its Escape Hybrid in the developmental stage for years, is a coup for both automakers.
Ford will be quicker to market with what is sure to be a popular new model, Toyota will improve the economies of scale of its HEV system production and therefore reduce the cost of components, and in the process another fuel efficient, low emissions vehicle will become available to Canadians.
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| Besides a lot of cash in its pocket, Toyota also gets the advantage of cornering the early market for HEV hardware. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Toyota is bullish on the new partnership, stating that it is considering supplying other automakers with the technology as part of its goal to produce 300,000 HEVs on the road by mid-decade.
While philanthropic on the surface, Toyota not only will produce more HEV hardware which increases profits for its hybrid program, but also has the potential of becoming the Microsoft of HEVs, cornering the production market for components that could inevitably become instrumental in fuel cell applications.
On this subject Toyota previously inked a deal with number one competitor Nissan Motor Co. in 2002, a much more comprehensive licensing agreement.
Under this current agreement, Toyota's patents on its gasoline-electric hybrid engine system have been licensed to Ford for its hybrid system, which is under development. While the U.S.-based company is using some Toyota technology, Ford said its hybrid system would feature more than 100 unique patents.