Who Controls the Large Capacity NiMH Batteries for 100% Pure Electric Cars?
A complicated series of corporate mergers, actions, moves, lawsuits, sales and transfers have lead to confusion over the NiMH battery patents ownership. The following history traces the large capacity automotive traction NiMH battery from its inventor to the power currently possessing them. The NiMH battery started out in the hands of ECD Ovonics, a company founded by the battery’s inventor, Standford Ovshinsky. Ovshinsky received Time Magazine’s “Hero for the Planet” recognition for the NiMH battery invention in 1999. Mr. Ovshinsky invented small, powerful batteries made from alloys called nickel metal hydrides. American manufacturers did not show a significant interest, but Japanese electronic conglomerates embraced the technology very quickly. In 1998 alone, they made 780 million NiMH batteries for computers and other electronics. Nova aired a documentary on Ovshinsky titled “Japan’s American Genius” (1998). Prior to this, Ovshinsky discussed the possibility of making large capacity
