Forbes Staff

Toyota Motor announced today that it will invite competitors to use its hydrogen fuel cell patents for free until 2020, in an effort to kick-start the market for hydrogen-powered cars like the Toyota Mirai, which goes on sale later this year.

Toyota, which stubbornly pushed hybrids when gasoline was just $1 a gallon, is now convinced we’re on the cusp of a “hydrogen society.” Without a refueling infrastructure, however, fuel cells are going nowhere. That’s why Toyota has committed substantial financial support for the development of hydrogen refueling stations in California and the northeastern United States. Last May, Toyota loaned $7.3 million to FirstElement Fuels to support 19 hydrogen stations across California. Then, in November it announced a collaboration with Air Liquide to develop and supply a phased network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations targeted for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Opening up its intellectual property is the next step in Toyota’s aggressive push toward hydrogen. The Japanese carmaker is offering free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell-related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the new Mirai. The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell system software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.

“At Toyota, we believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen,” Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA, said at CES in Las Vegas, where the announcement was made. “The first generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia and energy providers. By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically.”

After introducing the Prius in 1997, Toyota was happy to license its patents for hybrid technology to Ford and others, who paid for the technology. This is the first time that Toyota has made its patents available free of charge. The patents will be made available to automakers who will produce and sell fuel cell vehicles, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fueling stations through 2020. Companies working to develop and introduce fuel cell buses and industrial equipment, such as forklifts, are also covered. Requests from parts suppliers and companies looking to adapt fuel cell technology outside of the transportation sector will be evaluated on a case by case basis. As part of licensing agreements, Toyota will request, but will not require, that other companies share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty-free use.

Many question why Toyota would push hydrogen-powered cars, especially with gasoline at an average of $2.19 per gallon these days, according to AAA. But the company has earned enough credibility that it’s probably unwise to doubt them. But just in case, Toyota is making it easier for rivals to jump on the hydrogen bandwagon.