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Toyota to give away fuel-cell patents to boost industry

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Good on you Toyota! Definitely a positive step.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This could become a paradigm shift in the automotive industry where manufacturer from emerging nations like TATA of India or Cherry of PRC siege the chance to produce their own version of FCV faster then established manufacturers in the US and/or Europe too proud to reach out missing out on a golden opportunity.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yeah, but how long does the offer last? Nobody is going to act on this the offer expires in three years.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

*It's written within the article;

The cost-free licenses will be allowed “through the initial market introduction period” of fuel cell vehicles (FCV), which the company expects to last until about 2020

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Of course, this helps things get going, but this also ensures that the Toyota standard becomes the world standard, which will help Toyota's business in the long run. Big time. IBM did the same thing.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Nothing wrong with Toyota taking the lead and forcing their technology to become the standard, if it works.

There comes a time when we need to forge forward into the future, and if these guys are standing up and saying 'follow us', then they are the alphas who get to say how things go. Completely fine by be and I applaud this move by them.

There will be some twisting and turning for sure, but it is overall a benefit, and pretty exciting stuff.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

With a price tag of 6.7 million yen per car it will be for the time being a "rich" persons car. If other makers get into the game hopefully it will also help to bring prices down to a point where everyone can afford them.

Sales in Japan began on December 15, 2014.[42] Pricing starts at ¥6.7 million (~US$57,400) before taxes and a government incentive of ¥2 million (~US$19,600).[9] Initially sales are limited to government and corporate customers. As of December 2014, domestic orders had already reached over 400 Mirais, surpassing Japan's first-year sales target, and as a result, there is a waiting list of more than a year.[42]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Mirai#Markets_and_sales

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I really hope it will go well

1 ( +1 / -0 )

*It's written within the article;

Thanks. I missed that somehow. Yet, it does not clearly answer my question. The period could be three years like I said. They predict 5 years? Not good enough. It will take years just to get production going. Then when they do, they will be over a barrel and Toyota can either over-price the licenses or withdraw them all together. And if they opt out they will have to start from scratch on every Toyota license they drop.

I don't see it happening without contracts laid out clearly for free use followed by clear and reasonable licensing fees later.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well it could be ten from how they explain it, as long as the technology is within the "Initial market introduction period", and of course individual contract will be drawn out to each and every company that applies. If you consider the amount of money it costs to do research independently and can cash in with every unit they sell it is a bargain no matter how you spin it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

3 problems with the Toyota Mirai and other hydrogen cars. The hydrogen costs significantly more than the gasoline that hybrid cars use to go the same distance, the hydrogen stations are far and few between ( almost non-existent as of right now ) and the Mirai is priced at around 7 million yen. Cripes!

"But a limited driving range and lack of refueling stations have hampered development of fuel-cell and their cousin, all-electric cars, which environmentalists say could play a vital role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and slowing global warming."

Doesn't Mother Nature have a major role in global warming or global cooling?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Serrano

Try again according the another article;

According to JX Nippon Oil & Energy rate for hydrogen filling up a Mirai would cost 4,300 yen which would power it for 650km

I would say that is par with any internal combustion car on the market.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Samurai Blue

If you look at the same article you quoted from and do a calculation to compare how much it costs for enough hydrogen to go the same distance as a hybrid car goes using gasoline, you'll see hydrogen is more expensive.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Serrano

I seeyou can't do a simple comparison so let me help you. You pay a certain amout to obtain result. If the result is at a same level at the amount you paid then it is considered equal. A full tank of gas would probably cost more then 4,300yen and will get you around 650km.Now what is there to complain?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Once the technology is accepted there will be greater economies of scale in production of both the cars and the fuel. That will allow the emmissions for production of both to be handled at the point of manufacture. Thats a definite win. The biggest barrier to this technology right now is the price of a barrel of oil.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Samurai

From the Rocketnews article you quoted:

"a Mirai driven by hydrogen will get you 0.14km per one yen whereas gasoline in a Prius c can carry you 0.25km/yen... "So, the Mirai... gets beat out by hybrids rather easily."

Of course they could be wrong...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

SerranoJan. 06, 2015 - 10:10PM JST

3 problems with the Toyota Mirai and other hydrogen cars. The hydrogen costs significantly more than the gasoline that hybrid cars use to go the same distance, the hydrogen stations are far and few between ( almost non-existent as of right now ) and the Mirai is priced at around 7 million yen. Cripes!

Serrano: I think every problem you mention has been identified and acknowledged by Toyota and the entire automotive industry... as gokai-wo-maneku and Yubaru say, that's probably why Toyota has strategically made this move in hopes to open up the market to reduce manufacturing and hydrogen fuel costs in order to make FCV's more affordable and appealing, thus, Toyota will capitalize.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Copying Tesla.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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