Ford opens patent portfolio for electric car technology

US automaker Ford is opening its patents related to technology for electric cars so that competitors can use it. Tesla has already taken this step before.

According to Ford, about 20 percent of the patent applications it filed last year related to electric vehicle technology, totaling more than 400 units. Ford mentions patents for balanced battery charging, energy management and braking energy recovery, among other things. Ford does charge a license fee for the use of technology described in the patents.

With the initiative, Ford says it wants to accelerate development and research into electric cars by sharing its technology with others. The company also hopes to be able to recruit more talent this way.

The American car manufacturer is not the only one with this attitude: Tesla, among others, previously announced that it was opening up many of its patents. Toyota, in turn, has opened up patents in the field of fuel cells for hydrogen cars, although this manufacturer also asks for licensing costs in the long run.