EV Thermal Management Patent Landscape 2026
EV thermal management is a growth-stage field with 887 patent families in scope, led by BYD, Hyundai Motor, and Kia in a moderately concentrated top tier. Activity expanded strongly through 2023 and the multi-year trajectory remains upward, though annual volume has eased from its 2023 peak and the most recent filing years are further understated by publication lag.
BYD leads a moderately concentrated field with a strong Chinese and Korean top tier
BYD Co Ltd holds the top position with 104 patent families, followed by Hyundai Motor Co Ltd at 90 and Ford Global Technologies at 48. The top five filers together account for 37% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating meaningful concentration without outright dominance.
A clear two-tier structure is visible: BYD and Hyundai Motor occupy a leading tier at roughly 90–104 patent families each, while the second tier — Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Atieva, and Hanon Systems — clusters between 29 and 48 patent families. The gap between tier one and tier two is notable but not insurmountable for a well-resourced challenger.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYD Co Ltd | 104 | |
| 2 | Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | 90 | |
| 3 | Ford Global Technologies LLC | 48 | |
| 4 | Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | 31 | |
| 5 | Atieva Inc (US) | 30 | |
| 6 | Hanon Systems Co Ltd | 29 | |
| 7 | Great Wall Motor Co Ltd | 25 | |
| 8 | NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RES & DEV CO LTD | 19 | |
| 9 | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | 18 | |
| 10 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | 17 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Denso Corporation | 15 | |
| 12 | Tesla Inc | 14 | |
| 13 | Rivian Holdings LLC | 13 | |
| 14 | Mind Electronics Appliance Co Ltd | 13 | |
| 15 | Dongfeng Motor Group | 13 | |
| 16 | Kia Corporation | 12 | |
| 17 | Jilin University | 12 | |
| 18 | Marelli Automotive Systems UK Ltd | 10 | |
| 19 | SAIC Motor Corporation | 10 | |
| 20 | China FAW Co Ltd | 10 |
BYD’s lead reflects both its scale as an integrated EV manufacturer and a recent filing acceleration of +94% in the recent period. Hyundai Motor’s position is reinforced by a dense co-filing relationship with Kia, effectively making the Hyundai-Kia alliance the most active collaborative bloc in the field.
The most recent 18–24 months of filings are under-counted due to patent publication lag; apparent softness in 2024–2026 data should not be read as a real slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing volume surged from 2021 onward; vehicle HVAC integration dominates the technology mix
Annual filing volume more than doubled between 2020 and 2023, reflecting the rapid scaling of EV programs globally. The technology mix is heavily concentrated in vehicle climate and propulsion integration, with a long tail of adjacent component classes.
Annual filing trend
Filings climbed steeply from 44 in 2017 to a peak of 195 in 2023, representing the primary growth wave. The 2021 inflection — from 62 to 134 — marks the period when major OEMs accelerated EV platform investments. Figures for 2024 and especially 2025–2026 are materially understated by publication lag and should not be interpreted as a decline.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
B60H (vehicle heating and air conditioning) is overwhelmingly dominant, reflecting the centrality of integrated cabin and battery climate control. B60L (electric vehicle propulsion) and B60K (vehicle propulsion and drive) form the next layer, confirming that thermal management is tightly coupled to powertrain architecture. H01M (batteries and fuel cells) ranks fourth, indicating significant battery thermal management activity. Classes such as F25B (refrigeration and heat pumps), F01P (engine cooling), and F28D (heat-exchange apparatus) appear at much lower shares, pointing to under-served component-level branches.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Electric vehicle thermal management system
An electric vehicle thermal management system includes a refrigeration system having an electrically-driven compressor, a cabin heater, a cabin cooler, first, second, and third expansion valves, an environmental heat exchanger, a battery chiller, a connector line, a valve, and refrigerant. The battery chiller is positioned between the third expansion valve… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Optimal source electric vehicle heat pump with ext… | 221 |
| 2 | Electric vehicle thermal management system | 218 |
| 3 | EV Multi-Mode Thermal Management System | 171 |
| 4 | Vehicle HVAC and Battery Thermal Management | 171 |
| 5 | HVAC and Battery Thermal Management for a Vehicle | 146 |
| 6 | EV Multi-Mode Thermal Management System | 143 |
| 7 | EV Multi-Mode Thermal Management System | 133 |
| 8 | Vehicle HVAC and Battery Thermal Management | 131 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
The field sits in a growth stage with an established leader group and clear technology concentration. The following cards translate those structural facts into R&D and strategy signals.
Growth stage, past its 2023 filing peak on an annual basis
The field is classified as Growth: the recent three-year filing window sits well above the prior three-year window, with 72% growth across those periods. Annual volume peaked at 195 filings in 2023 and has eased since, though publication lag means 2024–2026 figures are not yet complete. New entrants still have a realistic path to establishing positions before the field matures further.
Growth stageModerate concentration with a pronounced two-tier structure
The top five filers hold 37% of the combined output of the hundred largest filers, indicating meaningful but not lock-in-level concentration. BYD and Hyundai Motor form a clear leading tier above 90 patent families each. The second tier — Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, Atieva, and Hanon Systems — sits between 29 and 48 families, leaving room for challengers to compete on specific technology routes rather than overall volume.
Moderate concentrationHyundai-Kia is the dominant co-filing alliance; Geely cluster is the second most active
The most active co-filing pair is Hyundai Motor and Kia, with 78 jointly filed families — far exceeding any other pairing. A secondary Hyundai-Kia-Doowon Climate Control trio adds 5 and 4 co-filings respectively. Within the Geely ecosystem, Ningbo Geely R&D and Zhejiang Geely Holding co-filed 9 families, with Geely Holding extending further into affiliated entities. Collaboration is largely intra-group rather than cross-industry.
Intra-group alliancesChina is the primary filing jurisdiction, followed by the US and EPO
China accounts for 434 patent records, the United States for 241, and Europe (EPO) for 131 — together covering the majority of filing activity. WIPO PCT filings at 57 and South Korea at 40 round out the top five jurisdictions. Japan at 7 records is strikingly low given the presence of Denso in the applicant ranking, suggesting some Japanese applicants may be filing primarily in non-Japan offices for this technology area.
China-led, global reachGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | Kia Corporation | 78 |
| Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | Kia Corporation | 12 |
| Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co Ltd | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | 9 |
| Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | Doowon Climate Control Co Ltd | 5 |
| Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | Geely Automobile Institute (Ningbo) Co Ltd | 5 |
| Kia Corporation | Doowon Climate Control Co Ltd | 4 |
| Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | Zhejiang Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicles Group Co Ltd | 2 |
| Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | Zhejiang Remote Commercial Vehicle R&D Co Ltd | 2 |
| Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd | Zhejiang Zeekr Intelligent Technology Co Ltd | 2 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
BYD accelerating; Hyundai Motor steady with strong alliance support
The two leading filers differ in trajectory and technology emphasis: BYD is the fastest-growing top-tier applicant, while Hyundai Motor’s position is reinforced by a dense co-filing network with Kia and supplier Doowon.
BYD Co Ltd
BYD leads with 104 patent families and a recent-period filing trend of +94%, the strongest acceleration among top-tier applicants. Its technology focus is concentrated in B60H 1 (vehicle heating and A/C) with 102 records, supplemented by meaningful positions in H01M 10 (battery thermal management, 42 records) and B60L 58 (EV propulsion, 29 records) — a broad integrated portfolio spanning cabin, battery, and drivetrain thermal systems.
families: 104Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
Hyundai Motor holds 90 patent families with a recent-period trend of +55%, indicating sustained investment. Its focus is similarly anchored in B60H 1 (89 records) but with a thinner battery-thermal layer than BYD, compensated by F01P 7 (engine cooling, 8 records). Jointly with Kia (78 co-filed families), the effective Hyundai-Kia bloc rivals BYD’s scale and makes the Korean alliance the most cohesive collaborative force in the landscape.
families: 90| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Co Ltd | 60 | ▲ +94% |
| Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | 51 | ▲ +55% |
| Kia Corporation | 40 | ▲ +25% |
| Ford Global Technologies LLC | 2 | ▼ -88% |
| Jaguar Land Rover Ltd | 31 | ▲ new entrant |
| Hanon Systems Co Ltd | 16 | ▲ new entrant |
| Great Wall Motor Co Ltd | 22 | ▲ new entrant |
| Ningbo Geely Automobile Research & Development Co Ltd | 1 | ▼ -92% |
Under-served component-level branches adjacent to the dominant HVAC core
While B60H dominates the landscape, several component-level IPC classes remain sparse relative to their technical relevance in EV thermal systems. These observations are based on relative filing counts and do not constitute validated market opportunities without further analysis.
F25B · Refrigeration & heat pumps
F25B covers vapor-compression refrigeration and heat pump cycles — technologies central to EV range recovery in cold climates — yet accounts for only 51 patent records at a 2% share of the technology composition. Heat pump adoption in EVs has accelerated commercially, suggesting the component-level IP layer may lag OEM-level system patents filed under B60H. Entrants with compressor, refrigerant, or cycle-optimization expertise could find this branch relatively open, with a natural entry path through refrigerant or component supplier positioning.
Search this in Eureka →F28D · Heat-exchange apparatus
F28D covers heat-exchanger design and construction at only 17 patent records and a 1% share — notably sparse given that chillers, coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchangers, and battery cold-plate architectures are hardware-critical in EV thermal loops. This sparsity may reflect that heat-exchanger geometry is embedded in broader system patents rather than claimed separately. Specialists in microchannel, plate-fin, or additive-manufactured heat-exchanger design could build a defensible component position with limited incumbent competition at the F28D level.
Search this in Eureka →How leading applicants differ across thermal management technology routes
Route coverage across the main technology branches in the current evidence set.
| Player | B60H 1 · Vehicle heating & A/C | B60L 58 · Electric vehicle propulsion | H01M 10 · Batteries, cells & fuel cells | B60K 11 · Vehicle propulsion & drive | B60K 1 · Vehicle propulsion & drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Co Ltd | Strong · 102 | Moderate · 29 | Moderate · 42 | Emerging · 13 | Absent |
| Hyundai Motor Co Ltd | Strong · 89 | Emerging · 10 | Emerging · 8 | Absent | Emerging · 3 |
| Kia Corporation | Strong · 77 | Emerging · 7 | Emerging · 6 | Absent | Emerging · 3 |
| Ford Global Technologies LLC | Strong · 39 | Moderate · 15 | Moderate · 18 | Moderate · 10 | Emerging · 6 |
| Great Wall Motor Co Ltd | Strong · 25 | Strong · 17 | Absent | Strong · 14 | Absent |
| Hanon Systems Co Ltd | Strong · 29 | Absent | Absent | Moderate · 8 | Absent |
| Atieva Inc (US) | Strong · 28 | Absent | Moderate · 9 | Absent | Absent |
Frequently asked questions
The evidence covers 887 patent families in the EV thermal management space globally.
BYD Co Ltd leads with 104 patent families, followed by Hyundai Motor Co Ltd at 90 and Ford Global Technologies at 48.
China is the primary filing jurisdiction with 434 patent records, followed by the United States at 241 and Europe (EPO) at 131.
The field is in a Growth stage. The recent three-year filing window is 72% above the prior three-year window. Annual volume peaked in 2023 at 195 filings and has eased since, though 2024–2026 figures are materially understated by publication lag.
Hyundai Motor and Kia co-filed 78 patent families — by far the most active pairing — with additional collaboration between Hyundai Motor and Doowon Climate Control (5 families) and Kia and Doowon (4 families). Within the Geely group, Ningbo Geely R&D and Zhejiang Geely Holding co-filed 9 families.
F25B (refrigeration and heat pumps) at 51 records and F28D (heat-exchange apparatus) at 17 records are the most notable sparse branches relative to their technical importance in EV thermal loops. F24F (air conditioning and ventilation) at 11 records is also sparse. These are observations of relative filing density, not confirmed commercial opportunities.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
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