While California led the states in most clean energy patents in 2012, Michigan was not too far behind. According to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI), California was the leader in clean energy patents per state in 2012 with 346 patents, but in third place was the Great Lakes State with 202 patents. Michigan’s 202 patents were just enough to make it the leader in clean energy patents overall in the US over the last decade. The 202 patents were also 100 more than Texas who came in at fourth place in 2012. Other top Clean Energy patent states:
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Listed below are Michigan’s totals for various clean energy sectors in 2012 and the top clean energy patent owners in Michigan for this period:
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TOP 5 SECTORS FOR MI CLEAN ENERGY PATENTS |
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|
Industry Sector |
Patents |
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Fuel Cells |
125 |
|
HEV |
54 |
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Solar |
16 |
|
Bio |
8 |
|
Wind |
4 |
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TOP 6 ASSIGNEES TO MI CLEAN ENERGY PATENTS |
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|
Assignee |
Patents |
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General Motors Global Technology Operations LLC |
122 |
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Ford Global Technologies |
39 |
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Delphi Technologies, Inc. |
10 |
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Guardian Industries Corp. |
4 |
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Chrysler Group LLC |
4 |
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Daimler AG |
4 |
It comes as no surprise that the State that includes “The Motor City” boasts almost 200 patents related to Fuel Cell and Hybrid/electric vehicles just in the last year. In fact, Michigan assignees have produced over 30% of all the US Fuel Cell patents over the last decade. In addition, Michigan assignees have also produced over 50% of Hybrid/Electric Vehicle patents in the last 10 years. These two sectors are the two reasons that Michigan is the top clean energy patent State. Michigan assignees’ contributions to other clean energy sectors are not as astounding. The next best sector in Michigan over the last 10 years has been the Solar patent sector where Michigan assignees have amounted to only 4% of the US Solar patent industry.
Due to the great amount of Fuel Cell and HEV patents, two Michigan companies are in the Top 10 Clean Energy Patent Assignees overall for 2012. Those two are General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Both companies have made their marks in clean energy over the past decade as GM is present in the Top Fuel Cell Assignees over the last 10 years, and both are present in the Top 10 HEV Assignees over the last 10 years and the Top 25 Clean Energy Patent Assignees over the last 10 years.
GM has continued to pursue clean energy to develop more efficient vehicles. Currently, GM markets the Chevrolet Volt, which is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and averages 900 miles between fill-ups. GM has recently released the Chevrolet Spark, an all-electric vehicle with a mile-per-gallon equivalent rating of 119 in combined city/highway driving. As GM continues to develop new automobiles for domestic households, it is also working on vehicles for the US Army. The Army and GM have agreed to test new hydrogen fuel cell-related materials and designs on military vehicles. The project will also test possible military applications besides ground vehicles such as mobile generators. The project is set to last up to five years. For more information about the project, click here.
As a leader in HEV patents over the last decade, Ford has produced a multitude of vehicles using HEV technology. This line includes smaller hatchback hybrids and electric cars as seen in the Ford C-MAX line, as well as more luxurious hybrids and electric cars seen in the Ford Fusion and Focus lines. While Ford hybrids have an estimated fuel efficiency between 40 and 50 mpg, Ford electric vehicles double that estimated efficiency ranging between 90 and 110 mpg. Ford is reaping the benefits of its line of HEVs as this past September sales (almost 6,000 HEVs) rose over 100% in comparison to last September. Overall, Ford’s sales have increased over 300% this year as compared to last year. For more information, click here.
While automotive manufacturing companies rule the clean energy patent world in Michigan, there are a few companies trying to make their mark in other clean energy sectors. One such company is Guardian Industries. Starting as a windshield manufacturing company for the automotive industry, Guardian now provides diversified services for commercial and residential industries as well. Focusing on energy efficiency, Guardian’s four patents from 2012 were related to solar applications. Some of these inventions were directed towards environmentally durable antireflective coatings. See U.S. Patent No. 8,319,095. Many of Guardian’s products use some sort of antireflective coating. For instance, the SunGuard Architectural Glass is a coated glass that reduces heating and cooling costs and can be seen in use on the Hearst Building in New York City. Guardian also manufacturers solar energy glass that can convert the sun’s energy into electricity. Its EcoGuard glass solutions can be customized to help concentrate and capture solar energy as well as work with photovoltaic cell performance. For more information on Guardian solar energy products, click here.
Through the first two quarters of 2013, Michigan assignees remain strong contenders particularly in the Fuel Cell and HEV sectors. General Motors’ combined Fuel Cell and HEV patents declared it the King of the first quarter topping Toyota by 9 patents, but second in the second quarter with Toyota topping it by 3 patents. Due to the contributions of Ford and GM, this first quarter also marks Michigan’s best first quarter, jumping 17 patents compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Currently, Michigan is second in the US with 140 clean energy patents and looks poised to accelerate past its numbers from last year. For more information regarding clean energy patents see www.cepgi.com.