Tesla Opens Patents To All Potential EV, ZEV Automakers Immediately
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made available to all interested parties — including automakers — every patent related to the automaker’s electric-vehicle technology in the hope more EVs will be built.
Autoblog reports Musk had made a personal policy not to take out patents on any project he created, believing doing so actually meant buying “a lottery ticket to a lawsuit.” With Tesla, however, he claimed as many patents as he could to protect the EV automaker from the competition. To his dismay, the competition wasn’t competing at all:
… electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales.
Thus, all patents in Tesla’s front office have been taken down as a sign of Musk’s willingness to help spur EV and ZEV development among the majors, believing “Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform.” Musk also stated the open-sourcing of the patents would boost Tesla’s position as a technology leader.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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And in related news, Hyundai just sold its first fuel cell Tucson: http://www.autonews.com/article/20140611/OEM05/140619971/hyundai-delivers-hydrogen-tucson-to-first-u-s-customer
Tesla's gas gauge is reported to be quite accurate; I'd like to see Nissan use it in the Leaf because theirs is terrible.
God Musk is a complete ass.
I've heard it speculated that this is a response to Tesla Motors stock being downgraded to 'Junk Bond' status, releasing the patents to make Tesla less attractive for hostile takeover.