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Featured Toyota unlocks its engine technology, could sell to rivals

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by telmo744, Dec 19, 2016.

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  1. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    http://europe.autonews.com/article/20161216/ANE/161219900?template=mobile02

    "
    TOKYO -- Long guarded about what was beneath the hood of its pioneering Prius cars, Toyota Motor plans to open up its powertrain technology to rivals, hoping this will boost sales and speed up the industry's shift to lower-emissions vehicles.
    Announcing last week it would expand its gasoline hybrid technology development, Toyota said it would consider selling complete powertrain modules - engines, transmissions and other drive components - to its competitors."
     
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  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Or perhaps another approach to dealing with China.

    Bob Wilson
     
  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Doesn't Ford already license some of Toyota's hybrid technology?
     
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  4. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    I believe they cross-licensed their patents. We don't hear a lot from the Ford owners but I had a chance to drive the Ford Escape hybrid and it was a delight. The handling and suspension were tuned for 'American butts' and it handled an over-patched road very nicely.

    Bob Wilson
     
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  5. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    When Ford realized that the hybrid system in the Escape could infringe on a sixth to a fifth of the patents Toyota had filed on the system in the then Prius, both parties agreed to a patent swap to avoid the cost of going to court. Toyota got some of Ford's diesel and emission control patents. The current systems don't infringe on each other.

    Now Nissan licensed THS for the Altima in order to have a hybrid for CARB's ZEV program, and Mazda might doing so in Japan. Offer enough cash, and most companies will share their patents. Waiving licensing fees like Tesla did is more news worthy.
     
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  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    My first thought on seeing this thread was "Toyota's waiving license fees?"
    Companies selling licensing or full hardware to others is not newsworthy IMHO.
    I has a 1980 Dodge Omni that had a VW Rabbit engine in it. Chrysler bought the engine from Volkswagen for this product.
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Appears the two were merged while I was typing.
     
  8. UsedToLoveCars

    UsedToLoveCars Active Member

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    which probably means Toyota has cooked up something better than the HSD and is getting ready to move on.
     
  9. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    There is no thing better than HSD. :D
     
  10. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The one-way clutch on the engine shaft used in the Prius Prius is an excellent improvement. It is one that should be in all future versions.

    Bob Wilson
     
  11. telmo744

    telmo744 HSD fanatic

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    #11 telmo744, Dec 29, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2016
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  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Methinks you possibly meant Prius Prime?
    Or is there a double plus good Prius in your Garage too :LOL:
     
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  13. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    The Prius Prius would be what came before what came before.

    So that would be, what, the Corolla?
     
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  14. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Prius is mid-sized, so that needs to be the Camry or the Corona?
     
  15. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    Well, the original Prius wasn't a midsize.
     
  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Gen 1? You're probably correct. I was thinking of Gen 2+
    Since US Gen 1 was really Gen1.5, perhaps he has a Japanese Gen 1?
     
  17. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    A lot of people here call the NHW10 (the original Prius that launched in Japan) the "Gen 0", from what I've seen...

    Oh, and the current Corolla's a midsize per EPA standards, too, now, with the same wheelbase as the Gen 2-4 Prius.
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Yea
    as mentioned in one of the post above, Toyota ain't really so guarded about tech, but the author is generating some drama - because Ford & Toyota (&even early nissan htbrids) cross licensed. No real secrets.
    But if people do by the pattons there is one Dr Severinsky who will be quite happy to hear about the selling of the so-called "secret" tech.

    The Hybrid Inventor Who Sued Toyota – And Won | WIRED

    It has been estimated that he gets about $100 for each hybrid /ford / Nissan Lexus / sale. Go Alex !!
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