Honda has surpassed GM in the number of clean energy patents the companies filed in the first quarter, according to a new study by the Cleantech Group. According to the study, fuel cell patents were the most numerous last quarter with 208 patents filed, while solar patents came in second for the quarter with 67 patents and wind came in third with 35. Biofuel patents for the quarter came in at 13.
Honda took the quarterly Clean Energy Patent crown from General Motors primarily based on its fuel cell (29) patents along with one solar patent. GM was on Honda’s heels with 28 patents of primarily fuel cells supplemented by 4 hybrid/electric patents and 3 solar patents. Samsung came in third for the first time based on fuel cell patents (18), solar energy (2) and wind energy (1). Toyota and Ford followed with 12 and 11 patents respectively. Both included hybrid/electric patents to which Toyota added fuel cell patents and Ford added solar patents. Nissan took fifth place with 7 hybrid/electric and 2 solar patents.