Although latest figures show a rise global patent filings for electric vehicles, intellectual property law firm Mathys & Squire said progress on innovation was not happening as fast as many commentators expected. Patents for EVs have increased by just 4 per cent and 1 per cent in the last two years. Partner Sean Leach said much more needed to be done to reduce costs and convince motorists to switch. He pointed out the cheapest new electric car available in the UK is currently priced at £19,795, compared to £7,995 for the cheapest new petrol car. “There is still a great deal of research to be done to make choosing an electric car an easy choice for every consumer. Prices are still too high for many people and that simply must change by 2030,” he said. “Manufacturers are competing to deliver an electric car that sells in the £10,000 range. That will require a great deal of R&D.” Leach also pointed out that the product development cycle is long in the automotive industry. “It is still going to take some time for a few carmakers to really pivot to electric vehicles,” he said. The figures compiled by Mathys & Squire show organisations in the US were the most prolific filers of global patents related to EVs last year, with 49 per cent of all patents filed. The UK filed only 0.4 per cent. A message from the Editor:Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers. If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription: www.scotsman.com/subscriptions
