LEADIN:

Toyota gave the automotive industry a hydrogen-powered kick at the International CES event in Las Vegas.

The Japanese car manufacturers announced they're set to make available thousands of hydrogen fuel cell patents royalty-free, in a bid to encourage the industry.

Toyota's new sporty-looking hydrogen-powered 'Mirai' is the backdrop for the Japanese auto makers press event at the International CES in Las Vegas.

Bob Carter, who is Senior Vice President of automotive operations at Toyota, explains the mechanics of the vehicle.

"The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour."

In the middle of his speech - a moment of drama as the power cut.

"I got you covered," assured Carter, as he connected a wire from the Mirai to re-boot the power in the briefing room and light up a mock-up home on stage.

"This Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency," explains Carter.

But the high-profile event wasn't about announcing a new vehicle or component, but about giving something away.

In a bid to encourage the hydrogen auto industry to flourish, Carter announced that Toyota is set to invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 fuel cell related patents.

That includes critical technologies developed for the new 'Mirai' - which means "the future" in Japanese.

The list includes approximately 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell systems' software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.

By releasing these patents, Toyota are hoping to encourage the industry to flourish.

"It's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP," says Carter.

"By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically."

The Toyota executive ended his speech with a quote from former President Abraham Lincoln.

"'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

Toyota unveiled the 'Mirai' - their first ever hydrogen-powered vehicle - at a press event in Tokyo in November.

The success of the vehicle and other hydrogen cars depends on an infrastructure growing to encourage drivers to buy them.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Automotive tech is set to be a big talking point at this year's International CES event in Las Vegas.

A variety of self-driving cars and integrated dashboards will demonstrate how seriously the car industry considers putting smart tech into their vehicles.

A record 10 automotive manufacturers are set to exhibit at the event including Toyota, Ford, BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

Automotive exhibits will cover over 165,000 square feet of event space, 17 percent more than last year.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will run 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase over 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 5 January 2015

1. Various of hydrogen-powered Toyota 'Mirai' vehicle

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"'The future' is what the 'Mirai' means in Japanese, and it's arriving in October this year in the US. The Toyota Mirai is a mid-sized, four-door sedan - its front wheels are driven by electric motors. The electricity that powers the motors is made on-board, on-demand, as needed by simply combining hydrogen with oxygen, producing zero emissions, other than water vapour. Unlike other electric cars that rely on large batteries for power, this Mirai can be re-fuelled, as the doctor (Michio Kaku) said, in three to five minutes and travels up about 300 miles on a single fill-up. It will start up in the morning at minus 30 degrees Centigrade, below zero, and as many of you have already heard...(power cuts out) Wait just a moment, this happened in rehearsal - I got you covered (connects vehicle to power 'home' on stage). Now, as I was saying, as many of you already know - this Mirai is capable of supplying enough energy to power your home essentials as well as all of your consumer electronics in an average home for up to a week, in the event of an emergency."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bob Carter, Senior Vice President, Toyota Motor Sales, Automotive Operations:

"Traditionally, intellectual properties are fiercely guarded, because they have great monetary value. But with programmes like the CSRC (Collaborative Safety Research Centre) Steve and our patent announcements today - it's obvious that there can be a higher societal value in openly sharing our IP. By eliminating the traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the metabolism of everyone's research and development and move into a future of mobility, quicker, more effectively and more economically. Indeed, I believe that today marks a turning point in automotive history. I'm going to close with a quote that captures the idea from President Abraham Lincoln, who said: 'The best way to predict the future, is to create it'. And that's what we're doing at Toyota."

4. Close of screen reading: "Toyota. #ToyotaMirai"

5. Wide of Carter on stage, UPSOUND: (English) "Please accept my thanks for all of you coming and I hope you enjoy CES tomorrow. Good afternoon"; applause

As thousands of enthusiasts pack the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for a closer look at the newest tech gadgets, most of the serious talk is about the latest line-up of ultra high-definition TVs and just how thin they are getting.

TVs are grabbing all the headlines at this year's CES.

Electronics makers are responding to consumer demand and that means - make it bigger and thinner.

The Consumer Electronics Association expects TV sales to increase two percent to 251 million units this year.

The average screen size is projected to be 40 inches, up from 31 inches in 2007. CEA predicts more than 23 million of the units will be 4K TVs this year, about 2.5 times the shipments in 2014. That's even with the explosion of viewing on tablets and smart phones.

One of the key drivers in this consumer market is the falling price of the technology.

TVs with 4K capabilities have started to drop below USD $1,000, but they are still a few hundred dollars more than regular sets.

Consumers also will likely have to pay more for 4K content, the way service providers now charge a few dollars more for high-definition downloads. Netflix charges $12 for a streaming plan that supports 4K versus $9 for regular formats, for example.

However with the latest compression technology, consumers should be able to view 4K video with standard broadband packages, though the experience will be better with higher, pricier tiers.

Even more streaming is expected as content providers hop on the online train alongside the TV makers. Tensions likely will increase between content distributors and Internet access providers over who's going to pay for network upgrades - and how those costs might get passed down to consumers.

South Korean electronics maker LG is showing off its latest range of OLED (organic light emitting diode) 4K sets at CES.

Scott Steinberg, a technology analyst for TechSavvy.com gives his verdict of the latest range at the show.

He says: "So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

Japanese maker Sony went for the ultra-thin design with a new model that is just 4.9 millimeters.

The super slim device is certainly stealing a lot of the attention on the show floor.

Jeremy Breitkreuze, a spokesman for Sony explains: "It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

Connectivity is an important part of the latest range of TV sets with more customers expecting the same level of functionality as they find on their smart phones.

"It's got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself," says Breitkreuze.

LG is also showing off its new G Flex 2, the successor to its popular curved smartphone.

Ken Hong, an LG Electronics spokesperson, says: "Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

This year's model features what the company describes as a "self-healing" casing.

Hong explains: "Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

At the show LG is showing how resistant its phone is to abrasion.

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches," says Hong.

But high-tech isn't limited to just gadgets. Toyota took to the floor for its U.S unveil of the Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle, a car that runs on hydrogen.

Toyota spokesperson Craig Scott says: "So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

Car makers are becoming an increasingly common fixture at the major international technology shows. Straying away from the boundaries of the traditional auto industry, car makers are keen to be seen as cutting-edge, according to tech analyst Scott Steinberg.

He says: "The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

3D printers were also making a big splash at this year's event. 3D Systems unveiled its latest model, the Cube Pro, which can print in full CMYK-W colour.

Steinberg explains why 3D printing is such big news for 2015: "Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

CES is packed with objects created on 3D printers - with plenty of models printing live on the show floor.

From chess sets to jewellery - there seems to be no end to the applications for a 3D printer.

Avi Reichental, the CEO of printer maker 3D Systems says: "Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

He adds: "I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

3D Systems' printers even created jam... of sorts.

All of these guitars, keyboards and drums were created by a 3D printer and the result is harmonious.

The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs 6-9 January 2015.

The annual technology event is set to showcase more than 3,500 exhibitors including big tech companies like Sony, Samsung and LG.

AP Television

Las Vegas, US - 6 January, 2015

1. Various of LG Electronics 4K televisions

2. Mid of show visitors

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, Technology Analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"So the ultra-thin TVs are certainly the latest examples of what you can see out of a company like Sony or LG. They're going to be moving towards higher definition, they're going to be moving towards picks a resolution that's much greater than anything you've seen before and going to be putting more and more of an emphasis on sleek, slim and well-designed products that are specifically designed to catch the eye and not just in terms of what's showing on their screens."

4. Various of Sony Bravia 4K televisions

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"It's coming out at 4.9 millimeters or .2 inches. A cool thing is that it does come with a wall mount, so that tv can be mounted against a wall and almost floating with a somewhat edgeless design. So when it's mounted to the wall it comes out at only about 4 centimetres."

6. Mid showing Sony's on-screen interface

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Breitkreuze, Sony Spokesperson:

"(It's) got our new Android operating system platform for the user interface, which allows you to do anything you can do on your phone, or imagine doing on your phone, you can now do on the TV itself."

8. Various of show visitors looking at ultra-thin Sony TV

9. Close of man holding LG Electronics G Flex 2 smartphones

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson:

"Something new that we're introducing here at CES 2015 is the second generation of our curved smartphone. This is called the G Flex 2 and as you can see not only is the back curved, but the glass is also curved."

11. Various of LG G Flex 2

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"Something that's also unique to this phone in the industry is something we call the self-healing back cover and although it looks like it's just a regular, normal metallic cover what it does is very unique and that is it repairs itself. It repairs itself within a matter of seconds in fact."

13. Close of G Flex 2 phone being scratched by abrasive

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ken Hong, LG Electronics spokesperson

"It's designed to withstand the scratches that would normally see in your pocket. Car keys, coins and so forth. So those generally are not deep scratches."

15. Close of G Flex 2 phone after it had been scratched by abrasive

16. Various of Toyota's Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Craig Scott, Toyota National Manager for Advanced Technology Vehicles:

"So this is a car that runs completely on compressed hydrogen, so there are no engine parts, for example. It's a fuel-cell that combines hydrogen and oxygen to make electricity and that electricity drives the electric motor which runs the wheels. So it operates just like a regular gasoline vehicle, but without any combustion, and without any combustion that means no emissions. So it is a completely carbon-free driving experience."

18. Various details of Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell vehicle

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"The reason you seen manufacturers like Toyota and other carmakers focus more and more on events like CES and electronic shows is because they're trying to emphasise technology as a differentiator. At the end of the day there's only so much you can engineer into a specific car from year to year, so they're looking at ways that apps, connected features and video and other elements can be used to help set their vehicles apart."

20. Various of Mirai's chassis and fuel cell

21. Various of Cube Pro 3D printer

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Scott Steinberg, technology analyst, TechSavvy.com:

"Last year 3D printing was very much in the concept phase it had a very limited range of applications. Now what you're seeing is 3D printing move to a space where you can create everyday household items, where you can create all sorts of things that you might use around your home as opposed to simply those that might be novelties or for techies alone."

23. Close of 3D printed chess piece

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"Everything that touches your life from your shoes and fashion to your food and creations is all going to be 3D printed."

25. Close of 3D printed jewellery

26. Close tilt down of 3D printed glasses

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Avi Reichental, 3D Systems CEO:

"I think that people have been excited about with 3D printing for quite some time. What's exciting about it this year is that it's at a price point and functionality that makes it truly democratised to a point where anybody can have it at home."

28. Close of 3D printer head creating object

29. Close of 3D printed shoes

30. Pull out of 3D printed electric guitar and drum kit

31. Various of musicians playing 3D printed instruments