Fuel Cell

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) fell as much as 10% after the company posted second-quarter results that fell below expectations. They posted a loss of 10 cents a share on sales of about $5 million vs. a loss of 9 cents a share on sales of $6.7 million a year ago. Analysts were expecting a loss of 6 cents a share on sales of $8.6 million. The company said the sales decline was due to lower product sales in its fuel cell systems segment. Shares are now trading off the lows and are currently only down 6%....

"Experts generally agree that our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable. Already oil is near $50 per barrel, and the great millions of Chinese and Indians destined to take to the road in the next decades have not yet gotten behind the wheel." This week Newsweek has written several special reports about alternative energy in all its forms. All of these reports can be found at the following link.

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) warned that due to production delays first-quarter revenue will fall below year-ago levels, and will miss Wall Street's target. The company said it expects revenue of between $4.5 million and $6.5 million, compared with the $11.3 million it posted in the prior year quarter. Analysts, on average, expect first-quarter revenue of $11.8 million. Shares of Hydrogenics have fell sharply over the last couple of days.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) new fueling station technology, featuring faster-fill hydrogen fueling advancements for fleet buses, will provide hydrogen for three Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses in San Jose, California. The three-year program to test the viability of zero-emissions bus (ZEB) technology was officially commissioned today at a kick-off event, as the first VTA zero-emission fuel cell buses were welcomed into operation.

I purchased shares in Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) this morning for both my personal portfolio and also the mutual fund. ALTI is a holding company that specializes in nanomaterials and also contains a life sciences division. The materials company has research in high performance batteries, fuel cells, and photovoltaics. Altair announced earnings today and the stock is up on the morning trading. Revenue Increases 68 Percent for Third Quarter and 230 Percent for Nine-Month Period "An increase in revenue of 230 percent for the first three quarters of 2005 is representative of the significant progress Altair has...

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiaries, Northern Power Systems and Proton Energy Systems, will build an advanced hydrogen fueling station through a partnership with EVermont, a non-profit organization that supports cleaner and more energy-sustainable vehicles. The grid-connected system will utilize locally generated renewable energy. This was made possible by a nearly $1 million Department of Energy (DOE) grant secured by Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT). The grant will be administered by the DOE's Hydrogen, Fuel Cell, and Infrastructure Technologies Program.

Alternative energy companies saw a market boost Tuesday after the U.S. energy secretary reiterated the president's support for alternative energy. "In the first year of that program, we've had tremendous success," Abraham said in an interview on CNBC. "We've bought international support to this effort and we're moving as fast as we believe the research can move." Companies that saw a bounce from Abraham's comments included Fuelcell Energy Inc (FCEL), Beacon Power Corp (BCON), Plug Power Inc (PLUG) and Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW). Beacon Power saw the biggest percent jump of 29.4 percent,...

Plans to produce the first consumer-ready fuel cell scooter got a significant boost Thursday when Parker Hannifin Corp., which makes industrial and aerospace systems and products, said it is investing in Vectrix Corp., a maker of electric scooters. Parker already had a 50% ownership stake in the company back in March of 2003. The terms of this new investment have not been disclosed. The Vectrix scooter was last mentioned here during its debut back in August.

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that its GenCore® 5T hydrogen fuel cell product is currently providing electricity for the holiday tree located in London at Trafalgar Square. The GenCore 5T fuel cell system is currently providing up to 5kW of power to the tree 24 hours a day. This year the lights only require approximately 4.5kW of power which is a significant reduction over last year due to the introduction of new low voltage bulbs that are more energy efficient.

Ballard Power (BLDP) announced it has exercised its right to call a CDN $55 million investment from its Vehicular Alliance partners, DaimlerChrysler AG and Ford Motor Company, pursuant to a Call Agreement entered into by the parties on December 31, 2003. DaimlerChrysler will purchase 2,431,388 common shares of Ballard at CDN $12.34 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of CDN $30 million. Ford will purchase 2,026,157 common shares of Ballard at CDN $12.34 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of CDN $25 million. Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the parties dated July 8, 2004, if Ballard...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has secured a follow-on order for 25 Fuel Cell Power Modules. These HyPM® 10kW power modules will be incorporated into back-up power products for one of the world's largest suppliers of uninterruptible power. Hydrogenics expects to deliver two units in 2004 and the remainder throughout 2005. More positive news from HYGS. As we head towards the close today HYGS is still down about 8% on 10x normal volume because of the takeover news. I did purchase more this morning.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) announced that the U.S. Army TARDEC's NAC (Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center's National Automotive Center) will exhibit a high performance, fuel cell off-road vehicle at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas from November 2 5, 2004. The "Quantum AMV(TM)" (Alternative Mobility Vehicle), nicknamed the "Aggressor," is a fuel cell vehicle designed and manufactured by Quantum at its California operations for the U.S. Army under contract with the NAC.

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) and Ballard Power (BLDP) announced they have been awarded a $2M program by the U.S. Department of Defense to develop an advanced prototype PEM fuel cell system to support Defense Continuity of Operations (COOP). Under this program, Plug Power and Ballard will jointly develop a next-generation prototype PEM fuel cell power solution to be used in backup power applications. Plug Power will act as the systems integrator, using a Ballard® fuel cell stack for evaluation and potential use in COOP programs for the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security....