Ford Motor has opened the door to its treasure trove of electrified vehicle technology patents for its competitors to assist the progress of research and development on that front.
More than 650 electrified vehicle patents and around 1,000 pending patent applications on electrified vehicle technologies are with the company.
During 2014, Ford applied for more than 400 patents in connection with electrified vehicle technologies.
Ford electrification programs director Kevin Layden said: "As an industry, we need to collaborate while we continue to challenge each other"
"The way to provide the best technology is through constant development and progress. By sharing our research with other companies, we will accelerate the growth of electrified vehicle technology and deliver even better products to customers."
Ford Motor has six hybrid or fully electrified vehicles in its product line, includinf Ford Focus Electric, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, Ford C-MAX Hybrid, Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.
Copanies interested in availing of the patents need to contact Ford's 's technology commercialization and licensing office or visit the automaker collaborative innovation and licensing marketplace, AutoHarvest.
AutoHarvest facilitates connection with fellow inventors to explore opportunities. The patents could be obtained against a fee.
Ford Global Technologies president and CEO Bill Coughlin said: "Ford helped launch AutoHarvest as a founding member to enable efficient and transparent technology licensing across the automotive industry and beyond."
Some of the patents being released are method and apparatus for battery charge balancing, temperature dependent regenerative brake system for electric vehicle and driving behavior feedback interface.
This apart, the carmaker will recruit 200 electrified vehicle engineers this year for its Ford Engineering Laboratories at Dearborn.
