{"id":1781,"date":"2025-02-18T16:33:15","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T16:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/?p=1781"},"modified":"2025-02-18T16:33:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T16:33:15","slug":"via-la-boosts-ev-charging-licensing-efforts-in-japan-signs-partnership-with-local-pool-administrator-uldage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/via-la-boosts-ev-charging-licensing-efforts-in-japan-signs-partnership-with-local-pool-administrator-uldage\/","title":{"rendered":"Via LA boosts EV charging licensing efforts in Japan, signs partnership with local pool administrator ULDAGE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-width:1px\">\n<p><strong>Context:<\/strong> In 2019, four years before its merger with Via Licensing, MPEG LA launched its EV Charging patent pool, providing one-stop access to technologies underlying worldwide standards for conductive AC and DC charging (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.via-la.com\/mpeg-la-introduces-one-stop-license-for-ev-charging\/\">May 29, 2019 Via LA press release<\/a>). The pool initially launched with GE Hybrid Technologies (now Dolby), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Robert Bosch and Siemens onboard as licensors. The electric vehicle (EV) charging market has since seen significant growth and, in December 2023, pool administrator Avanci also launched an EV charger patent programme &#8211; although that one consists of wireless (cellular) standard-essential patents that facilitate communication between charger stations and backend services so there is no need for a fixed line to the charger (on the other hand, Via LA&#8217;s involves patents related to the communication over the charging cable for the purpose of managing the charging process). Avanci&#8217;s programme, which now boasts 47 licensors, signed up nine licensees in its first 12-14 months (<a href=\"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/lg-is-now-also-licensee-previously-already-licensor-of-avancis-ev-charger-pool-industry-first-in-cellular-sep-licensing\/\">November 28, 2024 <strong>ip fray<\/strong> article<\/a>), including Japanese manufacturers Nitto Kogyo Corporation and Toyota.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What\u2019s new:<\/strong> Via Licensing Alliance today announced a strategic partnership with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uldage.com\/en\/\">ULDAGE<\/a>, a Japanese patent pool administrator that mainly focuses on digital broadcasting and emerging sectors (like EV charging), to help expand Via LA\u2019s EV Charging patent pool in Japan. The partnership will aim to attract licensors, automotive manufacturers, and technology implementers. In an interview with <strong>ip fray<\/strong>, Via LA\u2019s vice president of program management Willy Chang pointed to China\u2019s \u201csheer scale and speed of EV deployment\u201d but noted that Japan is planning significant growth to enhance its EV charging capabilities. By 2035, the country is aiming for 100% electric vehicles in new light-duty vehicle sales (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meti.go.jp\/english\/policy\/energy_environment\/global_warming\/ggs2050\/index.html\">Japan METI Green Growth Strategy<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Direct impact:<\/strong> The partnership underscores Via LA\u2019s continued efforts to expand in Asia over the past few years. As noted by Mr. Chang in an earlier interview, China, Japan and South Korea may be Via LA\u2019s \u201cstrongest geographies\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/via-la-launches-new-voice-codec-pool-dolby-etri-huawei-jvckenwood-and-ntt-already-on-board\/\">December 10, 2024 <strong>ip fray<\/strong> article<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wider ramifications:<\/strong> Via LA\u2019s recent focus on Japan highlights the growing importance of Japanese EV charger SEP holders in the overall ecosystem. It will be interesting to see how the market plays out as competition in this region intensifies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 2006, Tokyo-based ULDAGE is a patent pool administrator that specializes in digital broadcasting and emerging sectors like EV charging. Its portfolios consist of patents owned by several major SEP owners, including JVCKENWOOD, Maxell, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Via LA\u2019s EV Charging programme boasts eight licensors. After launching with GE Hybrid Technologies (now Dolby), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Robert Bosch and Siemens onboard, it now also licenses patents owned by LG Energy Solution, Ltd., LG Innotek Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, and Sun Patent Trust. There are currently five licensees signed up but their identities remain confidential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The pool is structured according to the component type (i.e. charging station or electric vehicle), standard class, and charging method. Royalty rates therefore range from anywhere between $5 and $40 per unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two technologies at the heart of the programme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Conductive<\/strong><strong> AC charging:<\/strong> the most common method for charging EVs at home, workplaces, and public charging stations. It involves transferring electrical energy from the power grid to the vehicle&#8217;s onboard charger through a physical connection. The onboard charger then converts the AC power to DC before storing it in the vehicle\u2019s battery. AC chargers are slower than DC chargers but more cost-effective and accessible, as most residential and commercial electrical systems are designed to provide AC power.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conductive DC charging: <\/strong>often referred to as fast or rapid charging, this directly supplies DC power to an EV\u2019s battery without requiring the vehicle\u2019s onboard charger to perform conversion. This allows for much higher power delivery, typically ranging from 50 kW to over 350 kW, significantly reducing charging time. High-power DC chargers can add hundreds of kilometers of range in just 15-30 minutes but they are more expensive to install and operate due to their high-power requirements and complex infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In a statement today, Via LA president Heath Hoglund said his company is \u201cpleased\u201d to be renewing its partnership with ULDAGE, \u201cbuilding on the success of [their] earlier collaboration on the MPEG-2 Systems program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr. Hoglund added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWith Japan aiming for 100% electric vehicles in new light-duty vehicle sales by 2035, the country is playing a major role in the global EV transition. Significant licensing opportunities abound in the space, and ULDAGE\u2019s strong network and expertise will be valuable in supporting our further engagement with the Japanese market.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, ULDAGE CEO Shuichi Endo said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cSince our inception in 2006, we\u2019ve worked to resolve complex patent issues across multiple industries. With our strong network in Japan\u2019s automotive and technology sectors, we\u2019re well-positioned to support Via LA in creating a balanced and effective licensing environment for the rapidly evolving EV charging market.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In conversation with <strong>ip fray<\/strong>, Via LA\u2019s head of programs Willy Chang broke down the world\u2019s strongest EV charging markets. China leads the global EV charging infrastructure with over 3.2 million public charging points as of July 2024, accounting for more than 85% of the world\u2019s fast chargers and around 60% of slow chargers, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the EU was home to 560,000 publicly accessible charging points as of mid-2023 (a 50% year-on-year increase from 2022). \u201cThe EU&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/transport.ec.europa.eu\/transport-themes\/clean-transport\/alternative-fuels-sustainable-mobility-europe\/alternative-fuels-infrastructure_en\">Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation<\/a> mandates public fast chargers every 60 km along main transport corridors, ensuring comprehensive coverage,\u201d Mr. Chang noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, in the U.S., there are currently 145,000 public charging points \u2013 with a significant portion located in California, New York, and Florida. There are compatibility challenges though, as the U.S. market features multiple standards, including CCS, Tesla&#8217;s NACS, and CHAdeMO. \u201cRecent federal initiatives have aimed to expand the nationwide charging network, focusing on highway corridors and underserved areas,\u201d Mr. Chang commented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared with Europe and China, he believes Japan\u2019s EV market has been slower to develop \u2013 partly due to the country\u2019s strong hybrid vehicle market and dominance of traditional automakers. Japan has approximately 30,000 public charging stations, equating to roughly one charger per 4,000 EV users.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the Japanese government aims to expand this network to 300,000 public charging ports by 2030. And, Mr. Chang adds, Japanese automakers are also some of the largest holders of patents essential to the EV Charging standards and play an important role in the global adoption and patent licensing of this technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan plans significant growth to enhance its EV charging capabilities, Via LA\u2019s head of programs Willy Chang tells ip fray.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55,81,20,14,15,132,66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-automotive-industry-players","category-green-technologies","category-patent-pools","category-patents","category-standard-essential-patents","category-toyota","category-via-la-patent-pools"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1781"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1790,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781\/revisions\/1790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ipfray.com\/staging1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}