Green Car Battles: Toyota and GM Jockeying for Pole Position in IP Licensing
Two auto industry titans are duking it out to sell their respective hybrid powertrain technology to other manufacturers and suppliers. Toyota and General Motors, the #1 and #2 carmakers in the world, are approaching competitors to license their slew of patents and other intellectual property to them.
Toyota has long been the preeminent leader in hybrid vehicles, introduced the first-generation of the ubiquitous Prius model with Hybrid Synergy Drive in 2001 and has sold millions upon millions of them. True to form, GM was late to the game and is rushing its plug-in hybrid model to market, the 2010 Chevrolet Volt powered by the Voltec propulsion system.
GM is touting the virtues of the Volt which has garnered preliminary mileage estimates of 230 mpg! At this stage, the 230 mpg claim seems ludicrous, but the Environmental Protection Agency appears to be backing it up.
Do you think 230 mpg is possible? Please post your comments! Up next, I’ll discuss why I think we should reserve judgment as to the efficacy of the Volt.
