- #11105 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [backy]
by stephen987
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Oct 30, 2008 (4:24 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Oct 30, 2008 2:57 pm)
Does anyone out there know if Ford is using a version of Toyota's hybrid powertrain management software etc? I believe the Altima Hybrid does.
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- #11106 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [stephen987]
by backy
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Oct 30, 2008 (5:36 pm)
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Replying to: stephen987 (Oct 30, 2008 4:24 pm)
Ford developed its own hybrid system. However, Ford licensed Toyota hybrid patents after its engineers realized that the system Ford had developed had features similar to ones patented by Toyota.
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- #11107 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [backy]
by akirby
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Oct 30, 2008 (7:19 pm)
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Replying to: backy (Oct 30, 2008 5:36 pm)
It's important to note that Ford did not pay Toyota for any patent rights for the hybrid technology - instead the 2 companies swapped patents. Ford developed their own technology but found it was so similar to what Toyota had already patented they wanted to avoid a potential future lawsuit, and Toyota needed something that Ford had already figured out. Ford is not using Toyota's hybrid system like Nissan.
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- #11108 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [akirby]
by elroy5
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Oct 30, 2008 (7:33 pm)
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Replying to: akirby (Oct 30, 2008 7:19 pm)
It's important to note that Ford did not pay Toyota for any patent rights for the hybrid technology - instead the 2 companies swapped patents.
Sounds like Ford had to pay Toyota off, because they copied their work.
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- #11109 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [akirby]
by aqua33v6
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Oct 30, 2008 (10:39 pm)
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Replying to: akirby (Oct 30, 2008 7:19 pm)
I don't know of any specific history between Ford and Toyota sharing hybrid technology, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had. For example, companies can make supplemental improvements to existing patents, and then turn around and patent those improvements. Possibly the case? Again, I haven't kept up on that sort-O-stuff.
Whether that be the case, or not, we could speculate such a thing.
(just as easily as we could speculate: "Sounds like this company paid-off that company," etc)
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- #11110 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [aqua33v6]
by akirby
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Oct 31, 2008 (6:57 am)
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Replying to: aqua33v6 (Oct 30, 2008 10:39 pm)
Both companies were quite clear about this. Ford developed their own hybrid technology but found their design was close enough to what Toyota had patented that there was a possibility that Toyota could sue them, so they worked out a swap of patents to avoid that. Happens all the time. In fact Ford only licensed 20 of Toyota's 350 hybrid patents. In exchange they licensed some diesel and direct injection patents to Toyota.
Can we please stop spreading lies?
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- #11111 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [akirby]
by backy
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Oct 31, 2008 (8:09 am)
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Replying to: akirby (Oct 30, 2008 7:19 pm)
It's important to note that Ford did not pay Toyota for any patent rights for the hybrid technology - instead the 2 companies swapped patents.
Bartering is a form of payment. Ford paid for licensing Toyota's hybrid patents by exchanging patents of their own. I really don't see why it matters whether Ford paid cash for the licenses, or paid with a swap of patents.
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- #11112 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [backy]
by m6user
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Oct 31, 2008 (9:36 am)
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Replying to: backy (Oct 31, 2008 8:09 am)
If that's the case who paid who? Unless one knows the exact value of both patents it's possible Toyota was paying off Ford. Not likely but what does it really matter?
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- #11113 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [m6user]
by thegraduate
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Oct 31, 2008 (10:13 am)
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Replying to: m6user (Oct 31, 2008 9:36 am)
If that's the case who paid who? Unless one knows the exact value of both patents it's possible Toyota was paying off Ford. Not likely but what does it really matter?
In the process of comparing mainstream midsize sedans and their characteristics, it doesn't matter at all (to me). I believe we have a News and Views section, or something of that sort, where that would be a great topic to kick around. 
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- #11114 of 13142
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Re: Fusion Hybrid Fuel Economy [thegraduate]
by backy
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Oct 31, 2008 (10:26 am)
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Replying to: thegraduate (Oct 31, 2008 10:13 am)
With three votes Nay (doesn't matter), one vote Yea (important), the matter of who paid whom for how much of what using what form of payment is rejected.
What is next on the mid-sized sedans docket?
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