Variety of technological trajectories in low emission vehicles (LEVs): A patent data analysis

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThis paper focuses on the diversity of engine technologies for low emission vehicles (LEVs) that are developed by car manufacturers in order to substitute for the conventional internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). Our purpose is to analyse the competition between the various technologies for LEVs as well as the innovative strategy of car manufacturers. We first propose to define and to represent these technological trajectories in order to compare their performances and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The technological bottlenecks, the barriers to the adoption of these alternative engine technologies as well as the features of this technological competition are underlined. We then use a patent data analysis to study the patent portfolios of the main car manufacturers in these technologies over the period [1990][1991][1992][1993][1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005]. The dynamics of patent applications by car manufacturers gives insight on the competition among technologies and on the strategy of firms. This analysis emphasises the progressive diversification of firms' patent portfolios over the whole set of engine technologies and the differentiated strategic positioning of car manufacturers according to countries.

Bioraffinerie and Knowledge Based BioEconomy

“…If we want to study the innovative strategies of car manufacturers in that field, we can use patent data as an indicator of innovation and of the technological positioning of firms 10 . In [23], we study the evolution of the patents portfolios of a sample of eleven car manufacturers 11 over the period [1990][1991][1992][1993][1994][1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005] by counting the number of cumulated patents for each engine technology. Figure 3 shows that the dominant design, which is considered as a very mature technology, is still continuously under improvements, and in particular diesel engine vehicles (DE).…”

“…We can argue that it is another signal of a step by step trajectory still strongly dependent on the dominant design. 12 This trend is also characterized by strong differences among car manufacturers which exhibit different choices of technological specialisation [23]. 13 For a complete evaluation and comparison of the LEVs technologies see [24].…”

“…This overlapping of technologies is a way of building a gradual path towards radically new engine technologies. As a result the technological competition among LEVs is characterised by a persistent diversity of options, no signs of premature lock-in and increasing complementarities between technologies which mainly benefit to HVs [23,25].…”

Patents as a measure for eco-innovation

“…• The level of eco-innovation activities and the directions of research in certain environmental fields: international comparison of eco-patents in specific technological fields, historical evolution of eco-patents in specific fields, technological competition between environmental technologies (for example in the fields of low emission vehicles in Frenken et al (2004) and in Oltra and Saint Jean (2006) or in the field of renewable energy in Johnsotone (2005).…”

Strategic niche management from a business perspective: taking cleaner vehicle technologies from prototype to series production

“…The vehicle industry is currently in a state where the established gasoline/diesel fuelled internal combustion engine (ICE) is being challenged by a number of alternative fuels and powertrain technologies (Orsato and Wells, 2007;Oltra and Saint Jean, 2009;Browne et al, 2012;Calabrese, 2012). Still, many of the proposed cleaner technology alternatives remain in a prototype stage; production and sales on a commercial basis is limited and the established technology dominates the market (Orsato et al, 2012;Sierzchula et al, 2012).…”