Important Events in Paice's History
The history and events that have shaped Paice are chronicled in this timeline. Click on each entry to capture the full story.
Select a topic of interest below to filter the timeline events.
2022
Volvo licenses hybrid technology patents from Paice, Abell Foundation
Volvo Cars and Paice reached an agreement to license patented hybrid technology in May 2022. Read the press release.
2020
Paice files patent infringement lawsuit against Volvo over hybrid technology
Paice and Abell Foundation filed a federal patent infringement lawsuit against Volvo in U.S. District Court in Maryland.
See the complaint.
Baltimore Sun: Baltimore-based tech firm and Abell Foundation file lawsuit against Volvo over hybrid engine technology
2020
Mitsubishi licenses hybrid technology patents from Paice, Abell Foundation
Mitsubishi, a global leader in plug-in hybrid vehicles, signed a licensing agreement with Paice in August 2020. Read the press release.
2020
Paice, Abell, and Daimler agree to license patented technology
Paice and Daimler reached an agreement to license patented hybrid technology in May 2020. Read the press release.
2019
GM took a license to Paice’s patent portfolio in 2019
GM took a license to Paice’s patent portfolio in 2019. Read the history of Paice’s licensing success.
2018
Honda licenses hybrid vehicle technology from Paice, Abell Foundation
Paice announced that it has reached an agreement to license all of its hybrid vehicle technology to Honda.
2018
Ford licenses hybrid vehicle patents from Paice, Abell Foundation
Paice has reached an agreement to license all of its hybrid vehicle technology to Ford Motor Company.
The resolution with Ford brings an end to years of litigation in a multitude of forums, including federal district and appellate court, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
2017
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,573,585
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,573,585 on February 21, 2017. It is the company’s 16th U.S. patent related to hybrid vehicle technology. View the patent.
2017
Paice files ITC complaint against Ford Motor Co.
Paice files a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in February 2017 requesting an investigation into the infringement of Paice’s patents by hybrid vehicles Ford imports into the United States. Paice asks the ITC to permanently ban Ford from importing any infringing vehicles, including the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ hybrids.
2017
Paice settles dispute with VW, Audi and Porsche relating to hybrid vehicle patents
Paice and the Abell Foundation announced that they have reached a settlement agreement with Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche regarding Paice’s hybrid vehicle patents. The agreement brings an end to all pending legal issues between the companies. Read the press release.
2016
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,463,698
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,463,698 on October 11, 2016. It is the company’s 15th U.S. patent related to hybrid vehicle technology. View the patent.
2016
Paice files ITC complaint against VW
Paice files a complaint against the Volkswagen Group with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The complaint alleges patent infringement by VW, Audi and Porsche.
2015
Paice reaches licensing agreement with Hyundai and Kia
Paice has signed a confidential licensing agreement with Hyundai and Kia. The South Korean automakers, which are aggressively expanding their hybrid offerings, now have access to all Paice patents. The licensing agreement brings an end to all litigation between the companies. Read more.
2015
Jury returns verdict of $28.9 million in patent infringement lawsuit against Hyundai/Kia
A jury ruled in favor of Paice in a patent infringement lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. in U.S. District Court. Paice was awarded $28.9 million. Read more.
2015
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,050,972
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,050,972 on June 9, 2015. It is the company’s 14th U.S. patent related to hybrid vehicle technology. View the patent.
2014
Paice and the Abell Foundation file a patent infringement suit against Ford
Paice and the Abell Foundation filed a patent infringement suit against Ford in February 2014 in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. This technology was licensed by Toyota, the world’s leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles, in 2010. Read the complaint.
News Coverage
Bloomberg: Ford Sued Over Use of Company’s Hybrid Vehicle Inventions
Investors Business Daily: Ford Hybrid Cars Draw Patent Suit As Sales Accelerate
Baltimore Sun: Abell Foundation joins suit against Ford over hybrid patents
2014
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,630,761
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,630,761 on January 14, 2014. It is the company’s 13th U.S. patent related to hybrid vehicle technology. View the patent.
2012
Ford introduces C-Max Hybrid
Ford introduced the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi (a plug-in hybrid) at the International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2011. The cars, featuring Ford’s third generation hybrid powertrain, went on sale in the US in Fall 2012.
News Coverage
Road & Track: 2012 Ford C-Max Energi & C-Max Hybrid
2012
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,214,097
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,214,097. View the patent.
2012
Paice and the Abell Foundation file patent infringement suit against Hyundai and Kia
Paice and the Abell Foundation filed a patent infringement suit against Hyundai and Kia. Read more.
2011
Hyundai, Kia enter hybrid market
Hyundai and Kia enter the hybrid market in 2011. Hyundai introduces the Sonota Hybrid in February 2011 and Kia launches the Optima Hybrid in November 2011. Together, the companies combined to sell more hybrid cars in 2011 than anyone other than the Toyota Prius.
2010
Toyota signs licensing agreement with Paice
Toyota, the world’s leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles, signs a licensing agreement with Paice on July 19, 2010. The agreement allows Toyota the use of all Paice technology. The agreement resolves all legal issues between Toyota and Paice.
News Coverage
Bloomberg: Toyota Settles Infringement Case Over Hybrid Patent
AP: Toyota settles Prius patent dispute with tech firm
2010
Ford signs licensing agreement with Paice
Ford signs a licensing agreement with Paice on July 8, 2010. The limited agreement gives Ford the right to use the Paice Hyperdrive technology protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,343,970.
2009
The American Society for Mechanical Engineers honors Dr. Severinsky
The American Society for Mechanical Engineers presents Alex Severinsky with the Thomas A. Edison Patent Award in recognition of his hybrid electric vehicle inventions. This award recognizes the creativity of Paice’s invention because of its potential to significantly enhance an aspect of mechanical engineering.
2009
Paice patents ranked most important in hybrid industry
Griffith Hack, an Australian law firm specializing in intellectual property, conducts an independent analysis of 58,000 hybrid vehicle patents. The study ranks Paice patents as the most important in the hybrid industry.
The study identified hundreds of patents with particular significance and ranked the 10 most important hybrid vehicle patents in the world. Paice claimed three of the top four spots — the ‘672 patent was ranked #1, the ‘970 patent was ranked #2, and the ‘391 patent was ranked #4. Paice’s ‘088 patent was ranked #7. No other company had more than one patent ranked in the top 10. The significance of Paice’s patents is the result of its early development of hybrid vehicle technology and its focus on system voltage and the method of control.
The study was updated in December 2010. View the 2010 report or the original report published in 2009, available courtesy of Griffith Hack.
News Coverage
Green Patent Power: Griffith Hack Report Analyzes Hybrid Car Patents
2009
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,597,164
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,597,164 on October 6, 2009.
2009
Paice files ITC complaint against Toyota
Paice files a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in September 2009 claiming that Toyota was importing hybrid vehicles that infringe on its patented technology. It asks the ITC to permanently ban Toyota from importing into the U.S. the Prius, Camry hybrid and two Lexus models. Read the complaint.
The ITC agreed to investigate Paice’s claims in October 2009. The case was dismissed in July 2010 after Toyota agreed to license Paice technology.
News Coverage
Green Patent Blog: Excluded Icon? Paice ITC Action Seeks Prius Importation Ban
Bloomberg: Toyota Settles Infringement Case Over Hybrid Patent
2009
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,559,388
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,559,388 on July 14, 2009.
2009
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,520,353
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,520,353 on April 21, 2009.
2009
Toyota introduces the third generation Prius
Toyota introduces the third generation Prius at the International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2009. Sales begin in Japan in May 2009.
News Coverage
NY Times: Hybrid Superstar Shines Brighter
“Few cars on the road today have been genuine game-changers, but the Toyota Prius is certainly high among those that are,” the NY Times reports. “Not only did the Prius help to prove that hybrid gas-electric powertrains can be feasible, reliable and desirable, the car has become the object of cultlike affection and a social statement. In the decade since the first Prius was introduced in the United States, more than 1.2 million have been sold worldwide.”
2008
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,455,134
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,455,134 on November 25, 2008.
2008
Ford unveils second generation of hybrid
Ford unveils the Ford Fusion Hybrid featuring its second generation hybrid powertrain at the LA Auto Show in November 2008. The Fusion has become Ford’s best selling hybrid.
News Coverage
Autoworld: New 2010 Ford Fusion Sport and Hybrid debut at the L.A. Show 2008
2008
University of Maryland honors Alex Severinsky
The University of Maryland inducts Alex Severinsky into the Clark School of Engineering’s Innovation Hall of Fame for his “pioneering work in the development of the Hyperdrive power-amplified internal combustion engine power train for hybrid vehicles.”
2008
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,392,871
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,392,871 on July 1, 2008.
2007
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,237,634
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,237,634 on July 3, 2007.
2006
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,104,347
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,104,347 on September 12, 2006.
2006
Robert Oswald named Paice CEO
Robert Oswald, an automotive executive with 50+ years experience, is named Paice CEO. He has been a member of the Paice Board of Directors since 2001. Oswald previously served as Chairman, CEO and President at Robert Bosch Corporation, the world’s largest supplier of automotive components and systems.
The company’s founder, Alex Severinsky, becomes Chairman Emeritus. He remains actively involved in the company.
2006
Francie Keenan named Executive Chairman
Francie Keenan, Chief Financial Officer of The Abell Foundation, is named Executive Chairman of the Paice Board of Directors. She has played an active role in leading the company since The Abell Foundation first invested in Paice in 1998.
2005
Paice wins patent infringement lawsuit against Toyota
Following a trial in U.S. District Court, a jury ruled that three of Toyota’s hybrid vehicles infringed on Paice’s patented technology: the Prius, Lexus RX400h and Toyota Highlander. Paice was awarded $4.27 million, and the judge ordered Toyota to pay Paice a royalty of $25 for every car sold. The amount was later raised to $98 per car.
2004
Ford introduces its first hybrid
Ford enters the hybrid market in 2004. The Escape hybrid, the first hybrid SUV, is introduced at the 2003 New York International Auto Show.
News Coverage
ConceptCarz: Compromise Nothing wîth Ford Escape Hybrid
2004
Paice files patent infringement suit against Toyota
Paice files a patent infringement suit against Toyota in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in June 2004. The case went to trial in 2005 and a jury ruled that three of Toyota’s hybrid vehicles infringed on Paice’s patented technology.
2004
Toyota introduces the second generation Prius
Toyota introduces an updated version of the Prius. It is named 2004 Motor Trend Car of the Year.
News Coverage
Motor Trend’s 2004 Car of the Year
“The all-new Toyota Prius, a roomy, feature-packed, and user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an astonishing 60 miles per gallon in city driving, is the 2004 Motor Trend Car of the Year,” the magazine declared. “Not only is it the first hybrid that an enthusiast can truly enjoy, it provides a tantalizing preview of a future where extreme fuel-efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and stirring performance will happily coexist in one package.”
2003
Paice presents at SAE Hybrid Conference
Paice presents alongside Toyota, Ford, Chrysler and others at the SAE Hybrid Conference in Troy, Michigan.
View the Paice presentation (“Cost-Effective Hybrid-Electric Powertrains”) by Alex Severinsky, Ted Louckes and Fred Frederiksen
View the Paice presentation (“Hybrids:Challenges and Keys to a Successful Program”) by Bob Templin
2003
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,554,088
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,554,088 on April 29, 2003. This patent was later ranked among the Top 10 most important patents in the world related to hybrid vehicle technology.
2002
Paice testifies before U.S. House committee
Paice testifies before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Energy, on June 26, 2002. General Motors was among the other companies testifying before the committee.
2002
Paice presents at key automotive conferences
Paice continues to demonstrate its hybrid leadership by presenting alongside Toyota, Ford, Honda and others at key automotive conferences in 2002:
Hybrid Vehicles and Energy Management, University of Braunschweig symposium in Braunschweig, Germany (February)
View the Paice presentation (“Effects of Lower Battery Voltage on Performance and Economics of the Hyperdrive Powertrain”) by Alex Severinsky, Ted Louckes, Bob Templin, Dave Poletta and Fred Frederiksen.
SAE World Congress in Detroit, Michigan (March)
View the abstract of the SAE paper (“Fuel Economy and Performance Impact of Hybrid Drive Systems in Light Trucks, Vans & SUVs”) by Dave Polletta, Ted Louckes and Alex Severinsky.
SAE Future Car Congress in Arlington, Virginia (June)
View the abstract of the SAE paper (“Hyperdrive as Powertrain Successor”) by Alex Severinsky, Ted Louckes, Bob Templin, Nat Adamson and Dave Polletta.
Center Auto Research Conference in Traverse City, Michigan (August)
Convergence International Congress & Exposition on Transportation Electronics in Detroit, Michigan (October)
View the SAE paper (“Electronics as the Cornerstone of Future Fuel-efficient and Clean Vehicles”) by Alex Severinsky, Ted Louckes, Bob Templin, and Fred Frederiksen.
2002
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,338,391
Paice is awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,338,391 on January 15, 2002. This patent was later ranked the fourth most important patent in the world related to hybrid vehicle technology.
2001
Paice testifies before U.S. Senate
Paice testifies before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on December 6, 2001. It was one of several companies — including Toyota, Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler — to testify about efforts to improve fuel economy.
2001
Paice presents at national, international automotive conferences
Paice solidifies its hybrid vehicle expertise when it is asked to present at national international automotive conferences in Fall 2001:
13th Annual International Engine and Environment Conference in Graz, Austria (September)
View the Paice presentation (“The Hybrid: A Challenge and an Opportunity for IC Engines”) by Ted Louckes
International Electric Vehicle Symposium in Berlin, Germany (October)
SAE Truck and Bus Conference in Chicago, Illinois (November)
View the abstract of the SAE paper (“Fuel Economy and Performance Impact of Hybrid Drive Systems in Light Trucks, Vans & SUVs”) by Dave Polletta, Ted Louckes and Alex Severinsky
2001
Paice featured on Autoline Detroit television program
Autoline Detroit, the popular weekly television show featuring John McElroy, aired a 30-minute interview with four Paice executives (Bob Templin, Robert Oswald, Ted Louckes and Alex Severinsky) in September 2001. The show was broadcast on public television stations across the United States.
McElroy opened the show by saying, “What if I were to tell you that there’s a new kind of hybrid technology that could double fuel economy, virtually eliminate emissions, work in the smallest car or the biggest SUV, and not cost a dime more than today’s power train. You’d be highly skeptical, wouldn’t you? So was I until I met some of the people who are behind this technology.”
Watch the show: Autoline Detroit with John McElroy, September 16, 2011
2001
Paice is awarded second patent
Paice is awarded its second patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,209,672) on April 3, 2001. This patent was later ranked as the most important patent in the world related to hybrid vehicle technology.
2000
Toyota introduces the Prius in the U.S.
Toyota introduces the Prius in the United States in June 2000. It was the first hybrid four-door sedan introduced in the U.S. Since 2000, Toyota has sold more than 1 million Toyota Prius vehicles in the U.S.
2000
Paice meets with automakers
Following the successful demonstration of its prototype in 1999, Paice embarked on a focused effort to promote its technology. From 2000 to 2003, Paice executives met with dozens of automakers and automotive suppliers to discuss the advantages of the Paice Hyperdrive system.
In many cases, Paice’s efforts advanced to the point of conducting preliminary engineering design work and joint development efforts. It met with some automakers several dozen times, showcasing its technology to CEOs, chief engineers and other top leaders.
1999
Paice unveils prototype, proves technology
Following a year of development with Lockheed Martin, Paice unveiled a prototype of the Paice Hyperdrive technology in October 1999 at Roush Industries’ testing facilities in Michigan. Several of the world’s leading automakers saw Paice show how it could dramatically improve fuel economy.
In dynamometer tests of a prototype simulating a Cadillac DeVille, gas mileage improved from 24 miles per gallon with a V8 engine to 44 miles per gallon with a 4 cylinder engine and hybrid electric system. All aspects of vehicle performance were maintained and emission levels were greatly reduced.
1998
Abell Foundation invests in Paice
The Abell Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Baltimore, makes an initial investment in Paice. The foundation has since invested more than $25 million to support Paice and the development of its technology.
1997
Toyota Prius is introduced in Japan
Toyota introduces the Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, on December 10, 1997. It was only available in Japan.
Since then, Toyota has sold more than 5 million vehicles in the Prius family of hybrids.
News Coverage
Business Week: Japan’s Hybrid Cars
“Toyota was not just presenting the Prius, which goes on sale in Japan on Dec. 10. It was making a declaration–that the Prius would be the first of a new generation of Toyota cars whose engines would cut air pollution dramatically and boost fuel efficiency to spectacular levels. Toyota, in short, wants to launch and dominate a new “green” era for automobiles–and it will spend billions to do it.”
1994
Paice is awarded first patent
Paice is awarded its first patent (U.S. Patent No. 5,343,970) on September 6, 1994. The invention introduces the Hyperdrive powertrain system — a breakthrough that helped make hybrid vehicles commercially viable.
This patent was later ranked as the second most important patent in the world related to hybrid vehicle technology.
1993
U.S. launches Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV)
President Clinton launched the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) in September 1993, a joint research program between the federal government and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, which included Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. One of its primary goals: to develop fuel efficient cars capable of getting up to 80 miles per gallon. All three automakers developed a concept car using a hybrid powertrain. The partnership ended in 2002 and was replaced by Freedom CAR, an effort that focuses on fuel cell and hydrogen powered vehicles.
Interestingly, Toyota’s exclusion from PNGV prompted Chairman Eiji Toyoda to create a secret project called G21, Global Car for the 21st Century. This program led to the development of the Toyota Prius.
Paice met with PNGV representatives in July 2001 to discuss Paice’s hybrid technology.
1992
Severinsky accepted into incubator program at University of Maryland
While teaching at the University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering, Alex Severinsky is accepted into the University’s small company incubator program and begins to further develop his ideas surrounding hybrid technology.
1992
Paice is established
Alex Severinsky formally incorporates PAICE (Power Assisted Internal Combustion Engines) in 1992. Later that year, Paice files its first patent application.
1979
U.S. Oil Crisis sparks an idea
The second U.S. oil crisis leads to long lines for gasoline. While waiting in line, Alex Severinsky begins to develop the idea for a hybrid vehicle that can improve fuel efficiency.
1978
Alex Severinsky moves to the United States
Alex Severinsky, an electrical engineer born in the Soviet Union, moves to the United States. He settles in Texas.