Should battery and EV companies focus on patent strategy?

Battery and EV companies should focus on patent strategy beyond prosecution and enforcement. Companies should align their patent strategy with their overall business plan to ensure that a patent portfolio realizes its full economic potential and generates revenue for the company by protecting investments.

How many patents are there in the battery industry?

Research and development in the battery industry have led to a notable increase in patent filings at the United States Patent and Trademark Ofice (USPTO), climbing from 3,773 in 2010 to 5,319 in 2019 (see Figure 1). But as more players enter the market and obtain patent protection for their innovations, IP disputes among competitors are heating up.

Are batteries protected by patents?

At their core, batteries are energy-storage devices, including a positive electrode (a cathode), a negative electrode (an anode), an electrolyte, and a separator—all of which are covered by patents, trade secrets, and other forms of intellectual property.

Can battery companies get a patent?

While patent prosecution can be onerous for any company, there is some evidence that battery companies generally face fewer obstacles to obtaining patents than other companies in the EV sphere, particularly those developing driverless AI technologies.

Are battery patents gaining speed?

With the spike in economic growth in the battery industry and the EV industry, the IP world is seeing a commensurate spike in battery activity. For example, battery-related patent filings are gaining speed, as are litigations involving battery patents.

Can battery technology help reduce fossil fuel dependence?

Over the past decade, developments in battery technology have led to rapid advances in the ubiquity of electric vehicles (EVs) and opened up new possibilities for energy solutions that will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels.