Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
We have no idea what the inverters or "energy routers" cost in the Hub and PowerCubes. These are the most expensive parts, and if we didn't "get a deal" on them, possibly because their suppliers don't have a relationship with us, or other contracts with us to "motivate them" to extend volume pricing or "preferred customer" pricing, then this angst about battery comparative pricing, i.e., hand waving with no data, is a waste of time ... in my opinion.
We have no idea who we lost the contracts to and what they brought to the table in things like financing or perceived financial stability.
Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
>apm:
What is your understanding w.r.t the Axion and Rosewater products targeting the exact same market?
I can't seen Axion winning this battle ... no expertise in selling into the high end "pure power" market as they had farmed that marketing all out to Rosewater (and according to my recall, having to be convinced to enter that market in the first place.) Even if by some chance they had a superior technical product, would it be so much so as to overcome superior marketing?
Also don't see it being that big from a battery sales perspective.
I haven't seen any demonstration that Axion is able to design and outsource to manufacture for the right price (that is sell to someone other than themselves) anything involving power electronics. I look forward to being proved wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem ... knowing your strengths, your capabilities, your weaknesses and getting realistic.
Remote and Grid-Tied Systems for Data Center Microgrids, Telecom/Village Power, Commercial Buildings, and Military Applications: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
>JP ... sure hope you didn't violate some NDA with those tweaking comments :-)
Would seem to me there might be good excuse for a talk or paper in there ... on the off chance they wanted some positive PR :-) Once the data comes in of course (drums fingers anxiously)
Or is the tweaking most likely something that if very common in the biz and thus not novel in any way?
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
One wonders what the odds are that BMW and NS are using, or want to be using, the same battery "version?"
Should a switcher and Over the Road Locomotive use the same version?
Might NS (i.e., the managers that control the pursue-strings) have some of the same issues as BMW as to which "level" of supplier with whom they would sign a major contract? Even though they've already invested mucho $$, given their fear of another PR disaster, might they be waiting for the "strategic agreement" with a BMW level 1 supplier to invest any more money?
"The existing HARM AGM-88B missile batteries need to be replaced to extend the useful life of these missiles, Navy experts explain. HARM, which is designed to seek and destroy enemy radar installations, has been in service since 1983.
...
The batteries must last in storage for at least 20 years, and provide at least five minutes of power for the HARM during flight."
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
I wonder if they have or might soon change their stance on initiating NDAs
a) now that V2.0 is out, and their quality is better ...
or
b) now that they realize they really need some "wins" ... even small ones.
>RK,
1) would you care to share how long ago you had your experience?
2) did they spend much time talking to you about sales potential before blowing you off?
I could imagine if they truly believe that almost any customer would need a lot of technical expertise handholding/support to properly take advantage of the battery, and due to financial constraints, they had nobody to do it, then the calculation of when to forgo NDAs may be a little more complicated than we might imagine.
You also can't "unring a bell" if somebody really does aim to screw you over with bogus test results or erroneous conclusions. No/little money to sue either :-) Maybe the management is more paranoid than we might believe.
And remember ... just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get ya! :-)
"There's also a lot of untapped potential. Connecting the battery to help run trains reduced energy usage at the Letterly Substation by 10 percent. When SEPTA engineers found a way to increase the amount of energy they could capture in a given braking event from 700 volts to 735 volts, the energy savings jumped to nearly 20 percent.
"Basically, every one of these trains is a little generator. So when you increase the output of these little generators, it means there's more power to be used by the other trains," Gillespie said.
SEPTA is now running tests to see whether it's possible to capture 765 and even 790 volts of braking energy, which is expected to further increase the amount of energy available to send to other trains or store in the battery.
...
Through its energy savings, SEPTA is able to pay back the battery provider Saft Groupe SA as well as ABB Group, which created the control system that links the trains, the battery and PJM all together. Viridity and SEPTA then share the profits from the wholesale energy market. Under this model, SEPTA expects to pay off the project in six years. The life expectancy of the battery is 10 years.
...
Using money from its energy savings, SEPTA plans to put 10 wayside energy storage devices in place at its substations.
...
SEPTA has already received a $1.44 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to build its second project, priced at $1.8 million. The profits from the two projects combined should bring in close to $1 million per year, which can be reinvested into other projects. SEPTA also expects private firms will finance these projects once they see how cost-effective they are. "
There are links on the page wherever the word "pdf" appears below:
Sustainable CUNY Overview <pdf>
ENPHASE <pdf>
FRONIUS
IDEAL POWER <pdf>
OUTBACK <pdf>
PRINCETON POWER <pdf>
SMA <pdf>
BTW, I've run across Ideal Power, a Texas startup spun out of Texas A&M a bit lately. http://bit.ly/M0S1fI
Converter or Inverter ... not clear if there's real and importanct difference in how the terms are used.
From their history:
February 2013 - Ideal Power Converters achieves a key certification for its 30kW Battery Converter. The IBC-30kW-480 is certified for UL1741 conformance.
May 2012 - IPC announces that its lightweight 30kW PV inverter, IPV-30kW-480, conforms to UL1741 and is included on the California Energy Commission (CEC) list of approved PV inverter products.
2010: IPC licenses its technology to Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin Intelligent Microgrid Solutions wins initial contracts from US Army Hybrid Intelligent Power program . IPC receives development contracts from Lockheed Martin for key power converter components.
As mentioned, they've partnered with Lockheed Martin: (from 2010):
Although it gets a little confusing as the Princeton Power presentation mentions Fort Bliss as well! Probably a big base with a number of different opportunities.
Who had completed UL certification as which time for which capacity may have also played a role ...
Axion Power Concentrator 241: June 4: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Would note we haven't seen many (if any?) recent orders for East Penn's "large format batteries for renewable power integration" systems either ... at least in the US.
Selling these kind of systems right now has got to be a challenging way to make a living ... at least till there's more data from demonstrations that utilities would demand and more clarity from the ISOs ... not to mention 50 states with differing energy policies.
Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
We have no idea who we lost the contracts to and what they brought to the table in things like financing or perceived financial stability.
Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
for those of us that don't "do" bonds much, here's one source (FINRA) of (delayed) data I ran across reading some stuff today:
http://bit.ly/10ThI53
Anyone else have bond related sites they particularly like?
Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
What is your understanding w.r.t the Axion and Rosewater products targeting the exact same market?
I can't seen Axion winning this battle ... no expertise in selling into the high end "pure power" market as they had farmed that marketing all out to Rosewater (and according to my recall, having to be convinced to enter that market in the first place.) Even if by some chance they had a superior technical product, would it be so much so as to overcome superior marketing?
Also don't see it being that big from a battery sales perspective.
I haven't seen any demonstration that Axion is able to design and outsource to manufacture for the right price (that is sell to someone other than themselves) anything involving power electronics. I look forward to being proved wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem ... knowing your strengths, your capabilities, your weaknesses and getting realistic.
Axion Power Concentrator 244: June 14: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
http://bit.ly/11jwh74
Direct Current Distribution Networks
Remote and Grid-Tied Systems for Data Center Microgrids, Telecom/Village Power, Commercial Buildings, and Military Applications: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts
A Review Of McEwen Mining: Any Value? [View article]
The original company was Silver States (note the S) Mining
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Would seem to me there might be good excuse for a talk or paper in there ... on the off chance they wanted some positive PR :-) Once the data comes in of course (drums fingers anxiously)
Or is the tweaking most likely something that if very common in the biz and thus not novel in any way?
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Should a switcher and Over the Road Locomotive use the same version?
Might NS (i.e., the managers that control the pursue-strings) have some of the same issues as BMW as to which "level" of supplier with whom they would sign a major contract? Even though they've already invested mucho $$, given their fear of another PR disaster, might they be waiting for the "strategic agreement" with a BMW level 1 supplier to invest any more money?
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Time to replace the batteries: EaglePicher to provide thermal lithium batteries for Air Force HARM anti-radiation missile
June 9, 2013
http://bit.ly/11aYMQP
"The existing HARM AGM-88B missile batteries need to be replaced to extend the useful life of these missiles, Navy experts explain. HARM, which is designed to seek and destroy enemy radar installations, has been in service since 1983.
...
The batteries must last in storage for at least 20 years, and provide at least five minutes of power for the HARM during flight."
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
a) now that V2.0 is out, and their quality is better ...
or
b) now that they realize they really need some "wins" ... even small ones.
>RK,
1) would you care to share how long ago you had your experience?
2) did they spend much time talking to you about sales potential before blowing you off?
I could imagine if they truly believe that almost any customer would need a lot of technical expertise handholding/support to properly take advantage of the battery, and due to financial constraints, they had nobody to do it, then the calculation of when to forgo NDAs may be a little more complicated than we might imagine.
You also can't "unring a bell" if somebody really does aim to screw you over with bogus test results or erroneous conclusions. No/little money to sue either :-) Maybe the management is more paranoid than we might believe.
And remember ... just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get ya! :-)
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
http://bit.ly/11sNTKb
"There's also a lot of untapped potential. Connecting the battery to help run trains reduced energy usage at the Letterly Substation by 10 percent. When SEPTA engineers found a way to increase the amount of energy they could capture in a given braking event from 700 volts to 735 volts, the energy savings jumped to nearly 20 percent.
"Basically, every one of these trains is a little generator. So when you increase the output of these little generators, it means there's more power to be used by the other trains," Gillespie said.
SEPTA is now running tests to see whether it's possible to capture 765 and even 790 volts of braking energy, which is expected to further increase the amount of energy available to send to other trains or store in the battery.
...
Through its energy savings, SEPTA is able to pay back the battery provider Saft Groupe SA as well as ABB Group, which created the control system that links the trains, the battery and PJM all together. Viridity and SEPTA then share the profits from the wholesale energy market. Under this model, SEPTA expects to pay off the project in six years. The life expectancy of the battery is 10 years.
...
Using money from its energy savings, SEPTA plans to put 10 wayside energy storage devices in place at its substations.
...
SEPTA has already received a $1.44 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to build its second project, priced at $1.8 million. The profits from the two projects combined should bring in close to $1 million per year, which can be reinvested into other projects. SEPTA also expects private firms will finance these projects once they see how cost-effective they are. "
Axion Power Concentrator 242: June 8: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Princeton Power had a blog posting of upcoming events:
http://bit.ly/16Ur7Tt
One of the more interesting links to me is:
NYC RESILIENT INVERTER WORKSHOP
June 5th 2013
http://bit.ly/11sLf6V
There are links on the page wherever the word "pdf" appears below:
Sustainable CUNY Overview <pdf>
ENPHASE <pdf>
FRONIUS
IDEAL POWER <pdf>
OUTBACK <pdf>
PRINCETON POWER <pdf>
SMA <pdf>
BTW, I've run across Ideal Power, a Texas startup spun out of Texas A&M a bit lately.
http://bit.ly/M0S1fI
Converter or Inverter ... not clear if there's real and importanct difference in how the terms are used.
From their history:
February 2013 - Ideal Power Converters achieves a key certification for its 30kW Battery Converter. The IBC-30kW-480 is certified for UL1741 conformance.
May 2012 - IPC announces that its lightweight 30kW PV inverter, IPV-30kW-480, conforms to UL1741 and is included on the California Energy Commission (CEC) list of approved PV inverter products.
2010: IPC licenses its technology to Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin Intelligent Microgrid Solutions wins initial contracts from US Army Hybrid Intelligent Power program . IPC receives development contracts from Lockheed Martin for key power converter components.
As mentioned, they've partnered with Lockheed Martin:
(from 2010):
http://bit.ly/11sLf6X
Lockheed was involved in the Fort Bliss Microgrid project which was just commissioned:
http://bit.ly/16Ur9uy
Although it gets a little confusing as the Princeton Power presentation mentions Fort Bliss as well! Probably a big base with a number of different opportunities.
Who had completed UL certification as which time for which capacity may have also played a role ...
Axion Power Concentrator 241: June 4: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
http://bit.ly/14O8HwV
PRIMOVE international media event - World premiere in Augsburg, Germany (Youtube video)
http://bit.ly/18fAduj
PRIMOVE: Efficient charging for eBuses (Youtube video)
http://bit.ly/13lG9Lx#!
Axion Power Concentrator 241: June 4: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
June 4, 2013 — Berlin Transportation
BOMBARDIER TRAXXAC Last Mile Locomotive is currently in the approval process
Last Mile function with additional low-emission Diesel engine and battery enables the seamless transportation of goods
http://bit.ly/ZYSA31
Axion Power Concentrator 241: June 4: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Selling these kind of systems right now has got to be a challenging way to make a living ... at least till there's more data from demonstrations that utilities would demand and more clarity from the ISOs ... not to mention 50 states with differing energy policies.
Axion Power Concentrator 241: June 4: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Speedy :-)
My best guess is that they're getting stricter about the use of special characters "replacements" in the 7 words ...
http://bit.ly/ZVSrxi