The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is driven by increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, stricter emission regulations, rising popularity of electric vehicles, and growing importance of technologies such as cooled exhaust gas recirculation, turbocharging, and supercharging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,0000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in automotive: HCCI. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
300+ innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models built on over one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutchesare some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is a key innovation area in automotive
Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) is a combustion process used in internal combustion engines. It combines elements of both spark ignition and compression ignition engines to achieve high fuel efficiency and low emissions. In HCCI engines, the air-fuel mixture is homogeneously mixed and compressed until it reaches autoignition temperature, without the need for a spark plug. This allows for more complete combustion and reduced pollutant emissions.
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 homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI).
Key players in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) – 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 homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI)
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Mazda Motor is one of the leading patent filers in homogeneous charge compression ignition. Mazda’s SKYACTIV-X engine represents the latest HCCI innovation addition by the company. Only a small, dense portion of the fuel-air mix in the cylinder is ignited by a spark in the SKYACTIV-X engine. As a result of the increased temperature and pressure, the remaining fuel-air mixture ignites under pressure and burns more quickly and thoroughly than in traditional engines. Some of the other key patent filers in this space include Ford Motor, General Motors, and Toyota Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Toyota Motor leads the pack, while Robert Bosch Stiftung and Gane Energy & Resources stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Gane Energy & Resources held the top position, followed by Mainspring Energy and Newlenoir.
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.
