The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by lightweight, long-lasting batteries and powerful solid-state batteries, and growing importance of technologies such as high energy density, flat voltage curves, and low self-discharge. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Batteries in automotive: vehicle battery exchange platforms. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Vehicle battery exchange platforms is a key innovation area in batteries
Battery swapping is a technique that enables swapping a discharged electric car battery with one that is already charged. It enables electric vehicles to exchange a discharged battery pack for a charged one instead of plugging to a charging station. Battery swapping is typically used in applications involving electric forklifts.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 185+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of vehicle battery exchange platforms.
Key players in vehicle battery exchange platforms – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to vehicle battery exchange platforms
| Company | Total patents (2021 - 2023) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Midea Group | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sany Group | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| China Electronics Technology Group | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Robert Bosch Stiftung | 19 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyster-Yale Materials Handling | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhejiang Geely | 35 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| State Grid Corporation of China | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Renault | 83 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry | 10 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honda Motor | 59 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Crown Equipment | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Porsche Automobil | 31 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Lifan Technology Group | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ocado Group | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Oshkosh | 9 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Walmart | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Continental | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ford Motor | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sogrepar | 11 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology | 49 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Nio | 212 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Gogoro | 55 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Thunder Power Hong Kong | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| TIER Mobility | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Neuron Mobility | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Beijing Automotive Group | 23 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Bozhong Precision Technology | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Weilai Automobile | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai dianba new energy technology | 137 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Aulton New Energy Automotive Technology | 139 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Bozhon Precision Work Technology | 29 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Nextev | 7 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Wenzhou Ruichu Technology | 12 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Tanktwo | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Weilai | 27 | Unlock Company Profile |
| AutoStore | 18 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Nio is the top patent filer in vehicle battery exchange platforms. The company provides a portable internet-based power solution through its extensive network of battery charging and battery swap facilities. It offers a power service system with rechargeable, swappable, and upgradeable batteries, enhanced by Power Cloud, to give users access to power services that are suitable for all scenarios. Shanghai Dianba New Energy Technology, Aulton New Energy Automotive Technology, Renault, and Honda Motor are some of the other notable patent filers.
In terms of application diversity, Beijing Automotive Group held the top position, while Ocado Group and Crown Equipment stood in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Neuron Mobility leads the pack, followed by Thunder Power Hong Kong and Continental.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
