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Technology Stocks : Ballard Power -world leader zero-emission PEM fuel cells -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (3070)	9/7/1998 2:13:00 PM
From: Urlman	Respond to of 5827

Since I assume most of you can't read German, here is a recent article I just translated ...it's still worth clicking on the original article which I included as a link.... it's a little choppy becuase I put it through a computer translator Special model fA¬r California: General engine experiments with the EV1. Stuttgart - on the search for new drive methods fA¬r the auto of mornings concentrate ever more manufacturer on the so-called gas cell. This chemical reactor produced from hydrogen and air the current fA¬r an electric motor - and offers more gegenA¬ber directly several strong advantages to most other drive alternatives. Thus the energy is produced directly on board, one saves heavy, expensive and short-lived batteries. Besides hydrogen is verfA¬gbar or reproducible in almost unlimited quantity. To better last the new energy source is still very pollution free, because it ensures quasi gerAuschlos fA¬r propulsion and escapes from the exhaust only a few WAlkchen water vapour. In view of these advantages one is not a miracle, daAY with high pressure on the " drive without sound and smoke " operates. Thus for example Mercedes and Fords together-did and directly in the Canadian gas cell pioneer Ballard power of system took part. Target is it to develop the new technique up to the year 2004 to production stage fA¬r the passenger vehicle area Chemical power station with groAYem space requirement this point in time calls also competitor of general engine, that with its subsidiary company OPEL in RA¬sselsheim a Sintra Minivan with a gas cell bestA¬cken lieAY. Also with that particularly fA¬r California developed " NO-Emmission"-model EV-1 experiments the company with appropriate concepts. In France one took up the idea lAngst and bestA¬ckt for example with Renault a Laguna Grand route with the chemical power station. However also this concept, Ahnlich like the Sintra, suffers still from the groAYen space requirement of the gas cell - more than two SitzplAtze and reservoir fA¬r a small suit-case lAAYt the system in the tail at present not yet too. Hydrogen on the roof: With the FA¬llung of the seven gas bottles the Mercedes Nebus comes 250 kilometers far. Substantially further one is to all appearances with Mercedes, where first driving attempts with the gas cell were already started 1994. those have 1997 Swabia the first Stad Priceless EinzelstA¬ck the hydrogen is stored in groAYen tanks on the vehicle roof. Thus the Nebus comes on a range of 250 kilometers and A¬berbietet thereby the average Tagespensum of a city bus clearly - is situated according to Mercedes with 140 to 170 kilometers. The gas cell bus is so far still another almost priceless EinzelstA¬ck, its quantity production after the optimistic prognoses of the developers still several years on itself waits lAAYt. oscillates nevertheless already now the Nebus from time to time in the Mannheimer city traffic. And since short time first appropriate penalty of the co-operation partner Ballard power in the GroAYstAdten Vancouver and Chicago run, say Richard KrauAY, which is zustAndig with Mercedes fA¬r the balances of the gas cell projects. But with this state of research the developers do not want to begnA¬gen themselves. They operate particularly on a further reduction of the systems fA¬r the application in the passenger vehicle. AuAYerdem want it kA¬nfti Methanol from regenerating raw materials Still another EinzelstA¬ck - up to production stage it lasts with the Mercedes-Necar-3 with gas cell still a few years. MAglich makes that a so-called Reformer, in methanol with salt-free water is evaporated and to hydrogen converted. Since methanol is flA¬ssig at room temperature, it kAnnte after EinschAtzung of the Ford developers like herkAmmlicher fuel at a normal gas station to be driven out. A second advantage: Methanol does not only lAAYt itself from natural gas, but also from regenerating raw materials win and ensures in such a way fA¬r a indulgence of the environment. Such was installed a gas cell including appropriate Reformer already in a Mercedes a-class, which completed 3 kA¬rzlich its young remote travel before the Federal Ministry of Transport into Bonn as Necar. The car has a range of 400 kilometers, which became HAchstgeschwindigkeit on 120 kilometers per hour beschrAnkt with a TankfA¬llung of 40 litres methanol. And differently than in the comparably conceived OPEL Sintra are preserved despite the complex technique four adequate SitzplAtze. Also this model is so far a EinzelstA¬ck manufactured in mA¬hsamer manual work. It is tested in practice, needs however still the maintaining HAnde of attempt engineers. But even if up to production stage fA¬nf years offense still at least - a start is at least made. Of Thomas's violonist, gms - photos: as SOURCE:http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/98/07/28/topnews/brennstoff.html

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (3070)	9/7/1998 8:52:00 PM
From: Derrick P.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5827

Sid, While I think you bring up some valid points, I believe that it is not as easy a contest as you make it out to be. You have to consider other factors such as competition, easy of entry into the market, patents/advanced technology, available cash and burn rate. I think some of the internet stocks would at least give Ballard a run for it's money. It is amazing though how these stocks get as high as they do, and how long it has taken, at least for Ballard, to make the long descent back down. Maybe the Barron's article this weekend will help awaken Amazon longs. Sorry for the thread drift. Best Regards, Derrick