B60L PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 1985
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- Subclass:
- PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
Description
B60L covers the complete electrical propulsion systems for vehicles, including motor control, power distribution, and energy storage technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles. The subclass encompasses auxiliary power supply systems for non-propulsion functions, electrodynamic braking mechanisms applicable across all vehicle types, and magnetic suspension or levitation systems. It also includes monitoring and diagnostic systems for operating parameters of electrically-propelled vehicles and safety mechanisms specific to electrical vehicle systems. This classification excludes non-electrical propulsion systems (covered in other B60 subclasses) and general electrical safety devices not specific to vehicle applications.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B60L recorded 274,295 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 12,952 in 2013 to 39,996 in 2023 (+209%). The most active applicants in class B60 are TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (28,052 applications), HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY (27,773 applications) and FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES (26,243 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
B60L ranks 2nd of 18 subclasses with filings in B60, with 274,295 applications between 2013 and 2023, 13.1% of the class. Annual filings grew 209% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+68%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B60R, Vehicles, Vehicle Fittings, or Vehicle Parts, Not Otherwise Provided for | Vehicles, Vehicle Fittings, or Vehicle Parts, Not Otherwise Provided for | 421,964 | 20.2% |
| 2 | B60L | Propulsion of Electrically-Propelled Vehicles; Supplying Electric Power for Auxiliary Equipment of Electrically-Propelled Vehicles; Electrodynamic Brake Systems for Vehicles in General; Magnetic Suspension or Levitation for Vehicles; Monitoring Operating Variables of Electrically-Propelled Vehicles; Electric Safety Devices for Electrically-Propelled Vehicles | 274,295 | 13.1% |
| 3 | B60K, Arrangement or Mounting of Propulsion Units or of Transmissions in Vehicles; Arrangement or Mounting of Plural Diverse Prime-Movers in Vehicles; Auxiliary Drives for Vehicles; Instrumentation or Dashboards for Vehicles; Arrangements in Connection With Cooling, Air Intake, Gas Exhaust or Fuel Supply of Propulsion Units in Vehicles | Arrangement or Mounting of Propulsion Units or of Transmissions in Vehicles; Arrangement or Mounting of Plural Diverse Prime-Movers in Vehicles; Auxiliary Drives for Vehicles; Instrumentation or Dashboards for Vehicles; Arrangements in Connection With Cooling, Air Intake, Gas Exhaust or Fuel Supply of Propulsion Units in Vehicles | 249,338 | 12.0% |
| 4 | B60W, Conjoint Control of Vehicle Sub-Units of Different Type or Different Function; Control Systems Specially Adapted for Hybrid Vehicles; Road Vehicle Drive Control Systems for Purposes Not Related to the Control of a Particular Sub-Unit | Conjoint Control of Vehicle Sub-Units of Different Type or Different Function; Control Systems Specially Adapted for Hybrid Vehicles; Road Vehicle Drive Control Systems for Purposes Not Related to the Control of a Particular Sub-Unit | 198,743 | 9.5% |
| 5 | B60N, Seats Specially Adapted for Vehicles; Vehicle Passenger Accommodation Not Otherwise Provided for | Seats Specially Adapted for Vehicles; Vehicle Passenger Accommodation Not Otherwise Provided for | 128,521 | 6.2% |
| 6 | B60T, Vehicle Brake Control Systems or Parts Thereof; Brake Control Systems or Parts Thereof, in General; Arrangement of Braking Elements on Vehicles in General; Portable Devices for Preventing Unwanted Movement of Vehicles; Vehicle Modifications to Facilitate Cooling of Brakes | Vehicle Brake Control Systems or Parts Thereof; Brake Control Systems or Parts Thereof, in General; Arrangement of Braking Elements on Vehicles in General; Portable Devices for Preventing Unwanted Movement of Vehicles; Vehicle Modifications to Facilitate Cooling of Brakes | 102,029 | 4.9% |
| 7 | B60H, Arrangements of Heating, Cooling, Ventilating or Other Air-Treating Devices Specially Adapted for Passenger or Goods Spaces of Vehicles | Arrangements of Heating, Cooling, Ventilating or Other Air-Treating Devices Specially Adapted for Passenger or Goods Spaces of Vehicles | 96,136 | 4.6% |
| 8 | B60C, Vehicle Tyres; Tyre Inflation; Tyre Changing; Connecting Valves to Inflatable Elastic Bodies in General; Devices or Arrangements Related to Tyres | Vehicle Tyres; Tyre Inflation; Tyre Changing; Connecting Valves to Inflatable Elastic Bodies in General; Devices or Arrangements Related to Tyres | 95,602 | 4.6% |
| 9 | B60Q, Arrangement of Signalling or Lighting Devices, the Mounting or Supporting Thereof or Circuits Therefor, for Vehicles in General | Arrangement of Signalling or Lighting Devices, the Mounting or Supporting Thereof or Circuits Therefor, for Vehicles in General | 95,567 | 4.6% |
| 10 | B60P, Vehicles Adapted for Load Transportation or to Transport, to Carry, or to Comprise Special Loads or Objects | Vehicles Adapted for Load Transportation or to Transport, to Carry, or to Comprise Special Loads or Objects | 87,420 | 4.2% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Additional Content
Glossary
Electrodynamic braking system An electric machine that acts as a brake. Braking is accomplished by reversing the electric fields on the machine, effectively turning it into a generator. The usage of the generated power, either in useful applications or as dissipation of heat, restrains the motor-generator and provides a braking action. As such, this term is virtually coterminous with "dynamo-electric braking system" (see below). However the term "electrodynamic" on its own is broader and less clear than the term "dynamo-electric". It means "pertaining to electric current, electricity in motion and the effects of magnetism and induction", and could theoretically encompass electrical devices other than dynamo-electric devices. Dynamo-electric braking system dynamo-electric braking systems A dynamo-electric machine is a device for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy or mechanical energy into electrical energy or combinations thereof, which involve electromagnetic induction. In respect of brakes, a braking effect could be produced by converting the kinetic energy of a vehicle into electrical energy, for dissipation (e.g. by resistors or as eddy-currents) or for storage (e.g. by regenerative braking). Alternatively, electrical energy could be supplied to the device to drive it into reverse, thereby producing a braking effect. Vehicle vehicles This term has been used with the following two variations in meaning within this subclass: (1) all varieties of apparatus (e.g. automobiles) intended to carry people or goods significant distances (e.g. between cities, to or from separate building complexes) across land or over water, except those restricted to one of the following types: rail vehicles, waterborne vessels, aircraft, space vehicles, hand carts, cycles, animal-drawn vehicles or sledges, which are covered by the relevant subclasses of . Moreover the term "vehicle" also includes (i) vehicular characteristics which are common to more than one of the above-listed types of vehicles, and (ii) certain characteristics restricted to automobiles, road trailers or cross-country trailers. (2) In some instances of this definition, the term "vehicle" has been qualified by another word which takes its meaning outside the scope of (1) above (e.g. "rail vehicle"); in such cases the word "vehicle" takes its broader dictionary meaning. The reader can determine from the context whether an occurrence of the word "vehicle" in this definition falls within the meaning stated in (1) or (2).
Limiting references
Electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles Electric heating for vehicles Arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units in vehicles Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems Arrangements or mounting of electric gearing in vehicles , Arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general Power-driven ground-engaging fittings for manoeuvring the vehicle Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function, including control of electrical propulsion units Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles Preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles Dynamo-electric machines,e.g. dynamo-electric brakes , Starting, controlling, braking of electric machines or converters in general
Related Keywords
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of electrically-propelled vehicles
- B60L 13/00 Electric propulsion for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways; Magnetic suspension or levitation for vehicles
- B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits or devices for controlling the propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles, e.g. their traction-motor speed, to achieve a desired performance; Adaptation of control equipment on electrically-propelled vehicles for remote actuation from a stationary place, from alternative parts of the vehicle or from alternative vehicles of the same vehicle train
- B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
- B60L 5/00 Current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles
- B60L 50/00 Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
- B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
- B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
- B60L 58/00 Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles
- B60L 7/00 Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
- B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
- B60L 9/00 Electric propulsion with power supply external to the vehicle
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B60, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION 28,052
- HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY KR 27,773
- FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES US 26,243
- KIA MOTORS CORPORATION KR 20,110
- ROBERT BOSCH DE 19,033
- TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION JP 17,924
- BMW (BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE) DE 14,214
- HONDA MOTOR COMPANY 12,527
- AUDI DE 10,806
- GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS US 10,336