Go ahead, peek at our patents. Toyota will allow others to use several thousand of its patented or patent-pending technologies for free to speed the development of its hydrogen-powered car dubbed the Mirai, due to be sold in the U.S. by October.
Toyota executive Bob Carter compared Mirai’s development to the gamble the company took on the electric Prius, which now has become a ubiquitous sight on most roads.
“We can speed the metabolism of everyone’s research and development,” Mr. Carter said.
Don’t expect a rush of carmakers to line up, though. Quite a few have their own hydrogen fuel cell cars in the works. But like the Prius, there’s the quandary of the car and the fuel station. Which comes first?
“We cannot have the car without the refuelling stations,” he said.
Toyota’s patents include 70 designs for hydrogen-refuelling stations, the plans for which are also now royalty-free.
