How to treat Toyota's patent of hydrogen fuel cell technology for free?

First, it is meaningful for Toyota to open a large number of patents for free when it is put on the market in Mirai in small quantities. As the author said in a previous blog about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, Toyota intends to lead the world trend of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Free patent opening means that the technical orientation and path of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be controlled technically, and its related standards will be internationalized. And no matter who uses it for free, it is impossible to surpass Toyota's accumulation in hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology for more than 20 years. Toyota is very confident about this. Second, unlike hybrid vehicles, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have a long industrial chain and must be guaranteed by infrastructure. Therefore, it is difficult to popularize fuel cell vehicles only by a few car companies. Free patent opening will encourage more enterprises to participate in the research and development and commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, expand the industrialization scale of key materials and components such as stacks and high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, and continuously reduce costs. More importantly, it will promote the construction of hydrogenation stations and the formation of hydrogenation networks around the world. Toyota's intention to open its technology patent for free is to get it first. Thirdly, regarding the time limit for the free opening of patented technology, the timetable given by Toyota is until the end of 2020 (patents related to hydrogen supply and manufacturing are indefinite), that is, 6 years. Why? In my opinion, firstly, six years is enough for a competent enterprise to digest and absorb Toyota technology patents and realize commercialization; Secondly, Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle technology still faces some problems, such as the reduction of platinum or no platinum in the catalyst of the fuel cell stack to reduce the cost, and the high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank: compared with Toyota's early hydrogen fuel cell technology, Mirai adopted a high-pressure gas tank, whose driving range can reach 700 atmospheres, which makes the structure and size of the gas tank a difficult problem in vehicle design and general layout, and also makes the cost of the hydrogen refueling station high. Solving these problems should be the goal of Toyota's next generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Roughly speaking, this time should be around 2020. It can be said that the patent opening period given by Toyota must be the result of careful weighing. Fourthly, how should China car companies and affiliated companies view Toyota's free access to patented technology? The author thinks that the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is still in the prototype development stage in China, the technical level can not be compared with Toyota, and the industrial chain has basically not formed. Using Toyota's patented technology can fill the technical depression in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as soon as possible and reduce development and risks. Enterprises interested in developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles should seize the opportunity. However, whether the use of patents can reach the level of Toyota depends on the technical basis and digestion and absorption capacity of China automobile enterprises and affiliated enterprises, and it is by no means a matter of one or several automobile enterprises, but the overall capacity of the industrial chain. Of course, some capable car companies should play an important role in this. Fifth, regarding the use of patents, according to Toyota, relevant enterprises need to apply to Toyota when using patents: "About the specific conditions of use, etc. An agreement will be signed separately after consultation. " The author is somewhat worried about this: 5680 patents need to be negotiated and signed for specific use, and both Toyota and related parties have to spend time and effort, and the actual operation efficiency may be contrary to Toyota's original intention. It is expected that Toyota will promote interested enterprises to use its patented technology efficiently with a more open attitude.