At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show Toyota announced that it will be providing over 5,680 patents related to hydrogen and fuel cell technology to automakers on royalty-free basis.
The patient includes technologies used to develop the new Toyota Mirai, around 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 3,350 patients related to fuel cell system software control, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.
With the new initiative, the Japanese auto maker expects to increase development and introduction of innovative fuel cell technologies around the world.
Toyota announced that the fuel cell patents will be provided to makers of fuel cell vehicles, fuel cell parts and energy companies who establish and operate fueling stations.
The patents related to fuel cell vehicles is expected to be available for royalty-free licenses till the end of 2020.
However, patents for hydrogen production and supply will not have any deadline.
The company also announced that it will request, but not require other companies to share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for royalty-free use.
Toyota Motor Sales US senior vice president of Automotive Operations Bob Carter said: "At Toyota, we believe that when good ideas are shared, great things can happen.
"The first generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia and energy providers.
"By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively and economically."
