Ford, Toyota Swap License Agreements

Mechanical Engineering, Apr 2004 by Degaspari, John

As the Ford Motor Co. moves ahead with its hybrid gasoline-electric Escape compact sport utility vehicle, it has signed licenses for about 20 patents held by Toyota Motor Corp. Toyota holds approximately 350 patents related to its hybrid technology. Ford plans to have its 2005 model hybrid Escape in showrooms this summer.

The 20 patents are primarily related to controls. Susan Krusal, Ford's spokeswoman for trucks and SUVs, said the licensing agreement allows Ford to market its own hybrid control system, which shares some similarities with the Toyota system. As part of the agreement, Toyota licensed technologies for nitrogen oxide emissions control, variable valve timing, and direct injection spark ignition from Ford.

This is not the first time Toyota has licensed its hybrid technology to another car manufacturer. In September 2002, Toyota signed an agreement with Nissan Motor Corp. for technical cooperation on hybrid systems. That deal calls for Toyota to supply hybrid system components. Nissan said it plans to offer hybrid vehicles in the United States, starting in 2006.

Toyota currently markets the Prius hybrid vehicle. The company produces about 47,000 of them a year.

JOHN DEGASPARI