The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Government regulations, consumer demand, technological advancements, and cost reduction are driving innovation in eco-friendly cooling circuits for the automotive industry. Variable displacement pumps, two-phase cooling, organic Rankine cycle systems, and thermoelectric cooling are some examples of these technologies. As the automotive industry moves towards sustainable practices, more eco-friendly cooling circuits are expected to be developed. Eco-friendly cooling circuits in the automotive industry include variable displacement pumps, two-phase cooling, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems, and thermoelectric cooling. Variable displacement pumps improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by adjusting coolant flow. Two-phase cooling uses vaporized refrigerant, while ORC systems generate electricity from engine waste heat. Thermoelectric cooling uses the Peltier effect but is expensive and requires a large amount of electricity. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Environmental sustainability in automotive: eco-friendly cooling circuits. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Eco-friendly cooling circuits is a key innovation area in environmental sustainability
Eco-friendly cooling circuits refer to cooling systems or circuits that are designed to minimize environmental impact and energy consumption. These circuits are typically used in vehicles or other systems where cooling is required. Eco-friendly cooling circuits often utilize heat pumps or other environment-friendly technologies to provide efficient and sustainable cooling solutions.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 10+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of eco-friendly cooling circuits.
Key players in eco-friendly cooling circuits – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to eco-friendly cooling circuits
| Company | Total patents (2010 - 2022) | Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies |
| Tata Motors | 8 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Toyota Motor | 17 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Valeo | 16 | Unlock Company Profile |
| BYD | 14 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Shanghai Aero Auto Electromechanical | 6 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Zhejiang Geely | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hyundai Motor | 25 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Hanon Systems | 21 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Honda Motor | 2 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Porsche Automobil | 5 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Denso | 26 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Kia | 24 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Ford Motor | 28 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Sanden | 95 | Unlock Company Profile |
| Konvekta | 4 | Unlock Company Profile |
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Sanden is one of the leading patent filers in eco-friendly cooling circuits for the automotive industry. Their latest patent, for a two-phase cooling system using a refrigerant, has the potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Some other key patent filers in this space include Ford Motor, Denso, and Sanden.
In terms of application diversity, Hanon Systems leads the pack, while Porsche Automobil Holding and Denso stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Toyota Motor held the top position, followed by Tata Motors and BYD.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Sustainability in Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
