Studying strategic choices of carmakers in the development of energy storage solutions: A patent analysis

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The present study focuses on the strategic choices that automakers make when positioning themselves vis-à-vis new energy storage solutions. This entails a comparison of innovation efforts in this area. Towards that end, the study uses a classic indicator of inventive activities, to wit, patents. In order to minimise the well-known bias associated with analyses of this nature, an original method has been developed, one that consists of filtering patent data in such a way as to exclude those patents that are less relevant to the present object of study. Analysis of 13 automakers highlights their: 1) uneven involvement in developing these technologies; 2) distinct positioning on technological value chain; 3) variable interest in different energy storage technologies (fuel cell, lithium, NiMh), with the most widespread ones not necessarily being those that attract the most involvement. © 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.