Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
FINRA compliance plans are generally pretty pro forma affairs for companies like Maxwell that have identifiable audit and other procedures to complete. The stock price will remain depressed until the Ts are crossed and the Is are dotted, but its only a matter of time and disclosure.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Since it looks like I'll be accepting an engagement as ePower's legal counsel, I expect to have a lot of skin in that game. It may limit my ability to be a gossipy observer, but some sacrifices must be made.
Besides, I'd much rather help build a company than comment on it's progress.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Those kinds of arrangements would really complicate my life and theirs. With five years of separation under my belt I can speak freely about how I interpret disclosed developments in Axion's business. I can also speak with a good deal of authority on the history of the PbC and the development of a strategy that Axion continues to follow with more success than I had hoped for and longer development timelines than I could have imagined.
If I were in regular communication with Axion, there's a significant risk that I might gain access to non-public information. I'd also have to disclose the nature and magnitude of the relationships, which could get very complicated. On balance, getting closer to Axion would be very dangerous for everybody, including the public stockholders.
Sometimes the best thing I can do is maintain adequate distance even though I'd really love to have the inside skinny and a potential revenue stream.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
FWIW, I called Vani the other day on behalf of a client who wanted to test the PbC as a starter battery for his small fleet of demilitarized Leopard II tanks. Vani was a good deal more open to the idea than I expected.
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
I underestimated the supply of greater fools. That doesn't make Tesla a sensible investment for folks who are hoping to sell at a profit to even greater fools.
I guess Barnum was right. There is one born every minute.
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Ira Ehrenpreis is in a funny position because he is in a fiduciary position for a fund that owned Tesla. Fiduciaries are legally obligated to responsibly manage their beneficiaries money and can be sued for failing to take profits when the downside risk outweighs the upside potential. There was a similar move last week then a DFJ fund distributed 200,000 shares to partners. When the guys in the know are selling because its their fiduciary obligation to do so, the storm flags are flying.
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
It's only an outrageous win for those with the good sense to sell at the peak, get out of the game and wait for a more reasonable entry price in the $5 to $10 range. It's a suckers game for everyone else.
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Incurring a hard liability to note investors to pay off a soft liability to the DOE would be the height of economic insanity if it wasn't absolutely necessary. It's only happening because the magic Tesla lease financing would have led to serial breaches of the DOE loan covenants.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Since there seems to be a good deal of customer pressure to get the PbC technology out of the sole source mode, I suspect that the IP team figured the benefits of a solid patent outweighed the benefits of secrecy.
China may not respect patents internally, but they have a hard time selling infringements to first tier non-Chinese buyers.
I also suspect that there's a lot of know how and machine design work that didn't get included in the patent application.
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
I don't think Tom's view is all that different from mine. Trying to sell a technology a battery manufacturer doesn't think it needs is tough. Selling one a big dog customer demands is easy. The operative theory has always been "sell the customers and the industry will be forced to follow the demand."
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
The biggest problem with stationary storage is customers who don't understand their needs or the overall value proposition. It's not just an Axion problem. It's an industry problem - a problem that's exacerbated by a plethora of willing sellers pounding the table on the technical and economic features they think important. There are lots of willing sellers ready to pitch different products, but very few buyers willing to spend their own money on million dollar hardware purchases they don't understand.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
My view of the marketing process from ePower's perspective has been an eye opener. The amount of hands-on engineering and technical support that even a small customer requires is amazing. A good salesman is just the beginning of the process. The real heavy lifting is done by the support engineers who have to develop systems that make the battery do the work the customer needs.
Once you understand the magnitude of the required marketing support, it's easy to see why Axion is picking its markets and potential customers very carefully.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Besides, I'd much rather help build a company than comment on it's progress.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
If I were in regular communication with Axion, there's a significant risk that I might gain access to non-public information. I'd also have to disclose the nature and magnitude of the relationships, which could get very complicated. On balance, getting closer to Axion would be very dangerous for everybody, including the public stockholders.
Sometimes the best thing I can do is maintain adequate distance even though I'd really love to have the inside skinny and a potential revenue stream.
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
I guess Barnum was right. There is one born every minute.
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
China may not respect patents internally, but they have a hard time selling infringements to first tier non-Chinese buyers.
I also suspect that there's a lot of know how and machine design work that didn't get included in the patent application.
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Once you understand the magnitude of the required marketing support, it's easy to see why Axion is picking its markets and potential customers very carefully.