Indian Scenario
EVs embrace a vast range of
technologies such as electric motors, batteries, chargers, etc.
Intellectual property (especially patents) plays a significant role in
safeguarding these innovative technologies. Patents protect these new
innovative products and processes by granting them a legal monopoly in
return for public disclosure of an invention. The Indian Patent Act 1970
gives protection to these inventions for a limited period of 20 years,
subject to payment of renewal fees. However, the patent owner can exploit
their invention for those 20 years. Not just patents but
other IP rights such as trademarks, designs, and trade secrets
also play an essential role in protecting EVs.
The first EV in the world
goes back to the 18th century when Robert Anderson developed the first
crude electric vehicle in 1832, but it wasn't until the 1870s that electric
cars became practical.
However, in India, the first
electric vehicle was invented by Scooters India Pvt Ltd in 1996 and was
named Vikram Safa. In 2000, BHEL developed an eighteen-seater
electric bus, which became popular. Although these inventions did not do
that well in the market, they offered a high cost and low life of the
vehicle's battery.
But, due to the
environmental harm caused by emissions from gas cars, the interest in EVs
has begun to increase. In 2007, in partnership with a UK-based ULTRA Motor,
Hero Cycles launched a series of bikes that also got popular among other
automobile companies. Hence, the transition.
The EV market in India is
worth $328.6 million and is expected to grow 90%, amounting to $206 billion
in 2030. EV retail
sales in
2021-2022 reached 4,29,217 units (including 2W, 3W & 4W), a threefold increase
from 1,34,821 units in 2020-2021.
A total number of 529 patents were filed related to
Electric Vehicles from 2001 to 2021 in India. Patent filing peaked in the
year 2014 with 75+ patents. Moreover, Honda motors have dominated the EV
patents in the Indian Market. It has around 400 patents related to
batteries and leads the EV space with 75 patent applications, followed by
Toyota Group with 60 patents related to EVs. The two biggest two-wheeler
manufacturers in India, TVS and Hero MotoCorp, remained behind filing
patent applications with less than ten patents.
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