Identifying electric vehicles batteries technology trends: a prospective study based on patent mining

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify recent trends in battery technologies being produced for Electric Vehicles [EV] propulsion, including advantages regarding pollution reduction. We used the software Patent2Net to investigate, through patent granted mining, by the International Patent Office [IPO], showing the linkages between inventors, patent applicants, and technology platform trends. Results show an increase in patent granted for EV batteries in the last 10 years, meaning that the knowledge on batteries technology and innovation has been continuously improved. Japanese technologies assume incumbency in the field, showing innovation diversity while dealing in almost all EV battery technology platforms. In spite of outdated technologies, such as Lead-acid batteries, keep on fighting in specific niches, Lithium batteries appear as the prevailing technology, as shown in sixteen patents. Lithium EV battery technologies/innovation trends, however, seem not determinative, as concerns on the availability of Lithium and other related metals, central to these technologies, becomes paramount.