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The beginning of the end for Big Oil?

by whateverpedia
8 replies
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Toyota releases fuel cell patents for royalty free use to all

Toyota just rocked the auto industry by announcing that it is opening to the public 5,680 of its patents related to fuel cell technology for royalty-free use. Bob Carter, the company's senior vice-president of automotive operations, delivered the news on Monday at CES, following an elaborate presentation that touted the strengths of its fuel cell vehicle, the Toyota Mirai.
"By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies", Carter said.
For many, Toyota's patent announcement will bring to mind Tesla's 2014 decision to make its electric-vehicle technology open to competitors. It's unclear what this new approach to patents means for the automotive industry, but when a major company like Toyota follows Tesla into the royalty-free patent space, it suggests a clear trend toward greater openness.
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    That Toyota Mirai is one ugly car, the front end looks like a fish head.

    Why do they make such ugly cars (Prius, Mirai) when it comes to efficiency? Like a sporty looking car couldn't be efficient. The Prius looks like an egg.

    It's like they're not really trying to sell those ugly cars compared to selling cool looking cars that everyone would want to buy/drive. I don't know If they're banking on green tax credits or what, something doesn't add up.



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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      As a 2012 Prius A owner I beg to differ. They are stylish and sleek and aerodynamically designed and very futuristic looking. The dash and built in facia housing the gear stick and the multifunctional screen above it makes it look like a space ship inside. 44.1 miles to the gallon. Good handling and very quiet engine. Smooth ride and capable of good speeds and acceleration Build quality is very solid. Good visibility through the windows

      Never had any trouble with it.

      You have to remember it is also a car to carry a family, not a 2 seater sports car, so you need room and storage in the trunk.

      Yes, I'm a fan.

      Signature

      Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

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      • Profile picture of the author yukon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        As a 2012 Prius A owner I beg to differ. They are stylish and sleek and aerodynamically designed and very futuristic looking. The dash and built in facia housing the gear stick and the multifunctional screen above it makes it look like a space ship inside. 44.1 miles to the gallon. Good handling and very quiet engine. Smooth ride and capable of good speeds and acceleration Build quality is very solid. Good visibility through the windows

        Never had any trouble with it.

        You have to remember it is also a car to carry a family, not a 2 seater sports car, so you need room and storage in the trunk.

        Yes, I'm a fan.
        A Honda CRX got 52 mpg in 1984 & looked better than a Prius. A 4 door GEO Metro was just as ugly as the Prius & got 42 mpg for a fraction of the car price. A four door 2015 Honda Fit gets 41 mpg & sells for $16K, that's at least $8K cheaper than a Prius & never have to worry about replacing an expensive battery ($4K + labor).
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by yukon View Post

          A Honda CRX got 52 mpg in 1984 & looked better than a Prius. A 4 door GEO Metro was just as ugly as the Prius & got 42 mpg for a fraction of the car price. A four door 2015 Honda Fit gets 41 mpg & sells for $16K, that's at least $8K cheaper than a Prius & never have to worry about replacing an expensive battery ($4K + labor).
          The Prius is not ugly in my opinion and by the way, the battery is now modular, you replace a deficient cell not the whole thing. That old addage about having to replace the whole thing which used to cost 7k a number of years back no longer applies.

          Perhaps take a test drive in a few of these cars your talking about (Aside from the old ones) and see and feel the difference.

          I Use it every day and fill up every 2 weeks, Last fill up was just over $18.00 bucks. It rocks (and not from side to side)
          Signature

          Feel The Power Of The Mark Side

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  • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
    That link doesn't work for me, but well done for Toyota to take that step, that's fantastic.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by Cam Connor View Post

      That link doesn't work for me, but well done for Toyota to take that step, that's fantastic.
      Thanks for the heads up. It's now fixed.
      Signature
      Why do garden gnomes smell so bad?
      So that blind people can hate them as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Unfortunately, today, you HAVE to patent or otherwise register a restrictive right with technology. The open source community has been doing that since about the beginning. LINUX is copyrighted, but all are given permission to USE the code.

    It IS nice that Toyota has decided to do the same, because it gives an incentive to update the technology that may be more advanced from the start.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Eh, that car isn't so ugly.

    Ford focus is mad ugly.

    Prius is also mad ugly.
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