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John Petersen

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  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    The DOE release on the SBIR Phase II applications specifies an "Early July 2013" award notification date.

    http://1.usa.gov/10KaJ2C
    May 20 08:17 PM | 2 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    I think it's important for all of us to remember that TG is a human being and there have been a couple instances in the past where he's been roundly criticized when things took longer than he expected. I've had the same problem myself. In my case the criticism has made me much more timid about timing predictions. I'd be amazed if Tom wasn't doing the same thing in an effort to avoid disappointment over timing issues.
    May 20 07:36 PM | 11 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 211: Feb. 23: Axion Power PbC Batteries Continue To Demonstrate Effectiveness For Railroad Applications Norfolk Southern [View instapost]
    My 1998 Audi A6 had the battery behind the firewall. There was a hatch at the back of the engine compartment between the hood hinges and directly in front of the radio.
    May 20 06:18 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    I don't have any basis to speculate on changes in Axion's project with GM, but I've written enough disclosure documents to be very confident that the 10-Q would have said automaker if the strategic partner was an automaker.

    Your recollection of the consensus parallels mine.
    May 20 06:14 PM | 4 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    Rosewater had exclusive rights to market the HUB if certain sales goals were reached. They also had the ability to market the PowerCube on a non-exclusive basis.

    Joe Picirrili of Rosewater is one of the ten original Axion founders, but his contribution and involvement paled in comparison to several current and former officers and directors.
    May 20 05:41 PM | 7 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    GM seems to be very devoted to the mild hybrid platform they launched with the LaCrosse and are currently implementing in several other vehicle lines, so my guess would be "Not GM."

    Since the Form 10-Q says "Our Phase II proof of concept effort includes collaboration with strategic partners chosen for their expertise in the development of compatible vehicle systems that are essential for our entry into both historical and emerging markets" my guess is the partner will be a tier one subsystem developer like Bosch, which is coincidentally developing a Gen2 micro hybrid system that will offer a 15% fuel economy bump instead of 8% and presumably require a much better battery.
    May 20 05:26 PM | 4 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    RBrun> It can take several months to negotiate and document a complex license, joint venture or supply agreement, but the process rarely drags out for more than six to nine months. Given Axion's statement that "We are a few months into that program and it is going well," I'd be surprised if we went three months without news.

    Another intriguing discussion in the CC was the disclosure that the Phase II SBIR grant application "... that included a strategic partner that is one of the industry giants." Since the DOE is targeting an early July decision date, I think the identity of the strategic partner is also a short-term event.
    May 20 04:55 PM | 9 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    The Form 10-Q said "The OEM, in an anticipated effort to insure they will not have a “sole source” issue, has asked us to pursue with them, an alternate provider of our final product. Since this initiative is in keeping with our long stated future strategy (“to become the leading supplier of carbon electrode assemblies for the global lead-acid battery industry”), we embraced the process. We are a few months into that program and it is going well."

    That disclosure is far more than a hint of a whiff. It says that Axion is negotiating the agreement NOW.

    In my experience, a No comes very quickly and the only answer that takes months to deal with is a Yes.
    May 20 04:04 PM | 8 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
    Toyota would have given NUMMI away to permanently get that PR disaster off its back. Instead it stripped out all the valuable undeveloped real estate, sold NUMMI to Tesla for a token payment of $50 million and then gave the money back to Tesla in exchange for effectively worthless stock that it won't ever be able to sell.

    The giveaway required some complex paperwork, but it artfully accomplished Toyotas corporate goals.
    May 19 08:41 PM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    One of the Axion patents mentions several potential corrosion barrier candidates including diamond film and titanium suboxide. While I'd expect the corrosion barrier to be a hot topic of future R&D, I think the focus for now is optimizing and refining the current process instead of working on a next generation.
    May 19 05:41 PM | 3 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    Grafoil is a common gasket material made from graphite flakes that make it a great conductor of electricity. If you impregnate grafoil with paraffin it becomes a great acid barrier. You don't need much thickness to protect the current collector, but the acid barrier has to be flawless.

    If Axion can find a conductive coating to protect the current collector, it should reduce costs and improve performance significantly. Heaven only knows when or if a suitable coating can be developed.
    May 19 04:57 PM | 5 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
    Government policy has never induced a paradigm shift, but the sands of time are littered with the bleached bones of prior failed attempts including fuel cells, corn ethanol and next generation solar.

    Paradigm shifts arise from technologies that prove their merit in a free market without the need to tie several government pork chops around the ugly baby's neck to ensure that the dog will play with it.

    Tesla has been an extraordinary promotion, but it will never be an extraordinary business because the business model tries to thwart the laws of thermodynamics, economic gravity and responsible resource stewardship. It's waste and filth wrapped in an expensive feel good package.
    May 19 02:00 PM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
    I share Iindelco's views as to the long term desirability of actively competing in the OEM automotive market. It's terribly capital intensive and a lousy place to try and earn outsized margins, so I'd prefer relationships that give Axion a reasonable profit share but offload the heavy lifting on somebody else.

    From a stock market perspective I'm praying for an early automotive win because it's the toughest badge of acceptance to win. Currently the market assumes that the PbC won't be a relevant competitor in any application niches. With an automotive win under its belt the assumption would shift to success in all application niches.

    Axion has been grossly undervalued for at least three years and finally reached what seems to be a starting point for its version of the hype cycle. I for one am looking forward to cautioning readers when Axion's stock price gets as disconnected from reality as Tesla's price is today.
    May 19 01:49 PM | 11 Likes Like |Link to Comment
  • Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
    Paradigm shifts do happen on rare occasions, but they never defy the laws of thermodynamics, economic gravity and prudent resource stewardship. When government has to tie a pork chop around the ugly baby's neck to ensure that the dog will play with it, you can be certain the ugly baby is not a paradigm shift.
    May 19 11:52 AM | 1 Like Like |Link to Comment
  • Tesla's Q1 Earnings, An Epic April Fools Prank [View article]
    Paradigm shifts happen on their own. There's no need to tie a pork chop around the ugly baby's neck to ensure the dog will play with it.

    There is no environmental, economic or practical benefit to electric drive. The concept is diametrically opposed to the laws of thermodynamics, economic gravity and responsible resource stewardship.

    EV advocates spout nonsense and sophistry while scrupulously avoiding undeniable facts. It's a solution that's far worse then the problem. They're literally tilting at windmills.

    http://bit.ly/11OQvbm
    May 19 10:29 AM | Likes Like |Link to Comment
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