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I have been following the development of lead-carbon batteries, and invested in Axion Power (AXPW). The primary advantage of lead-carbon batteries is that they

I have been following the development of lead-carbon batteries, and invested in Axion Power (AXPW). The primary advantage of lead-carbon batteries is that they can have orders of magnitude greater charge/discharge cycles than normal lead acid batteries. A normal lead acid battery eventually sulfates and will no longer accept charge - causing you to have to switch your car battery. What the PbC does is have a carbon electrode on the negative plate, which prevents most of the sulfation problems. The positive plate experiences much less. This is exciting because hybrid vehicles and other power applications demand many more cycles than traditional ICE auto. Previously this niche was only available to expensive and explosive Li-ion batteries. Now cheaper and safer lead-carbon batteries could be used (though they contain less energy). Axion Power is a development stage company that holds the patent for a pure negative electrode PbC. Other competitor batteries pale by an order of magnitude to the number of cycles it can take. It currently has the train company Norfolk Southern developing an all-electric train using Axion's batteries. http://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/26/new-life-green-weenie-electric-locomotive/ http://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/26/new-life-green-weenie-el... Axion also has auto companies, energy storage companies, and trucking companies developing apps using the PbC. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/axion-power-announces-order-for-four-powercube-energy-storage-systems-2014-05-14-10183230?reflink=MW_news_stmp http://www.marketwatch.com/story/axion-power-announces-order... http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/129019/Locomotive_Technology_to_Power_Class_8_Heavy_Trucks http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/129019/Locomotive_Tech... The reason the stock price is at 16 cents right now is because Axion has spent a decade developing the technology and is only beginning to see revenue. It has to raise money to continue operations. But the time is close. A risky but potential very rewarding investment. Each potential market for their battery number in the billions.

carbocation 12y ago
Just curious, does this post fall afoul of SEC guidelines re: microcap stocks, or is it OK because all of the information is technically public? Not trying to be critical here (though based on the form of my question, I suppose I am), just curious.
- goodcanadian 12y ago
  I am not an expert, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I think this falls into a bit of a gray area. One comment on a technical forum in response to an article where Axion Power was explicitly mentioned is probably OK. If the GP had a pattern of posting comments like this in many places, particularly investment forums, and under different usernames, it would be illegal market manipulation. Moreso, if that person was found to have bought, posted the comments, and then sold shortly after the market had gone up.
- nicholas73 12y ago
  The information is public and not misleading. More information can be found on Seeking Alpha via John Petersen's articles or the shareholders' blog at http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/1631091-axion-power-host/2923973-axion-power-concentrator-335-may-19-14-q1-1-cc-transcript-and-mp3-available-q1-14-filing-released-axion-receives-4-powercubes-order-reverse-split-consent-solicitation-filed?v=1400611375 http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/1631091-axion-power-host/2...
- LeeHunter 12y ago
  If the OP works for the company or is a stock promoter it might break some rules. Talking about your own investments (even hyping them) is not against any rules. The Internet is awash in stock forums.
coryrc 12y ago
"expensive and explosive"? BS Point me to car batteries that have exploded. And the raw materials for lithium batteries are cheap too, so they aren't going to be undercut much. Weight is an important part of cars. Using 3x heavier batteries isn't going to go big. They could be useful for trains or stationary though.
- nicholas73 12y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_problems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_p... http://updates.jalopnik.com/post/34669789863/more-than-a-dozen-fisker-karma-hybrids-caught-fire-and http://updates.jalopnik.com/post/34669789863/more-than-a-doz... http://www.businessinsider.com/february-1st-toronto-tesla-fire-2014-2 http://www.businessinsider.com/february-1st-toronto-tesla-fi... Need more? Lithium is one of the most expensive battery classes too... do I really need a source on this one. A Tesla battery costs 20k for a reason. Weight is important for cars, but most cars already have lead-acid batteries. Furthermore batteries aren't a large portion of vehicle weight. The reason lithium is used for electric cars is energy density. This is not a problem for hybrids.
  - coryrc 12y ago
    None of those exploded. If you claim exploded, prove it! Energy density is still useful for hybrids, especially PHEV. Earlier Prii use a very small lead-acid as 12V battery, but have a very large and heavy NiMH as the main pack. Doubling that weight is not a useful thing. Telsa battery costs $20k because it goes >200 miles. What cost and weight would these batteries have in that same circumstance? (oh, it doesn't matter because they're only useful for hybrids, so why bring up Tesla?)
    - nicholas73 12y ago
      "More Than A Dozen Fisker Karma Hybrids Caught Fire And Exploded In New Jersey Port After Sandy" If those photos don't count as an explosion to you, I don't know what does.
VLM 12y ago
There are other curious side effects, like a battery that is more or less sulfate proof would be nearly a permanent part of the car, rather then expendable "replace every could years". On the good side, hey its cheaper maintenance, long term. On the bad side this could encourage massive vendor lockin, such that a conventional ford f150 with a custom f150-only battery that "should" last for the life of the truck could charge nearly anything they want for it...

carbocation 12y ago

Just curious, does this post fall afoul of SEC guidelines re: microcap stocks, or is it OK because all of the information is technically public? Not trying to be critical here (though based on the form of my question, I suppose I am), just curious.

goodcanadian 12y ago
I am not an expert, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I think this falls into a bit of a gray area. One comment on a technical forum in response to an article where Axion Power was explicitly mentioned is probably OK. If the GP had a pattern of posting comments like this in many places, particularly investment forums, and under different usernames, it would be illegal market manipulation. Moreso, if that person was found to have bought, posted the comments, and then sold shortly after the market had gone up.
nicholas73 12y ago
The information is public and not misleading. More information can be found on Seeking Alpha via John Petersen's articles or the shareholders' blog at http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/1631091-axion-power-host/2923973-axion-power-concentrator-335-may-19-14-q1-1-cc-transcript-and-mp3-available-q1-14-filing-released-axion-receives-4-powercubes-order-reverse-split-consent-solicitation-filed?v=1400611375 http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/1631091-axion-power-host/2...
LeeHunter 12y ago
If the OP works for the company or is a stock promoter it might break some rules. Talking about your own investments (even hyping them) is not against any rules. The Internet is awash in stock forums.

coryrc 12y ago

"expensive and explosive"? BS Point me to car batteries that have exploded. And the raw materials for lithium batteries are cheap too, so they aren't going to be undercut much. Weight is an important part of cars. Using 3x heavier batteries isn't going to go big. They could be useful for trains or stationary though.

nicholas73 12y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_problems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner_battery_p... http://updates.jalopnik.com/post/34669789863/more-than-a-dozen-fisker-karma-hybrids-caught-fire-and http://updates.jalopnik.com/post/34669789863/more-than-a-doz... http://www.businessinsider.com/february-1st-toronto-tesla-fire-2014-2 http://www.businessinsider.com/february-1st-toronto-tesla-fi... Need more? Lithium is one of the most expensive battery classes too... do I really need a source on this one. A Tesla battery costs 20k for a reason. Weight is important for cars, but most cars already have lead-acid batteries. Furthermore batteries aren't a large portion of vehicle weight. The reason lithium is used for electric cars is energy density. This is not a problem for hybrids.
- coryrc 12y ago
  None of those exploded. If you claim exploded, prove it! Energy density is still useful for hybrids, especially PHEV. Earlier Prii use a very small lead-acid as 12V battery, but have a very large and heavy NiMH as the main pack. Doubling that weight is not a useful thing. Telsa battery costs $20k because it goes >200 miles. What cost and weight would these batteries have in that same circumstance? (oh, it doesn't matter because they're only useful for hybrids, so why bring up Tesla?)
  - nicholas73 12y ago
    "More Than A Dozen Fisker Karma Hybrids Caught Fire And Exploded In New Jersey Port After Sandy" If those photos don't count as an explosion to you, I don't know what does.

VLM 12y ago

There are other curious side effects, like a battery that is more or less sulfate proof would be nearly a permanent part of the car, rather then expendable "replace every could years". On the good side, hey its cheaper maintenance, long term. On the bad side this could encourage massive vendor lockin, such that a conventional ford f150 with a custom f150-only battery that "should" last for the life of the truck could charge nearly anything they want for it...