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swimjames
124 Comments
The Electric Car Battery Battle
We are now taking $1000 deposits for the Hymotion™ L5 Plug-in Conversion Modules for the Toyota Prius. The L5 is priced at $9995 + all applicable taxes + $400 destination fee. Installation and a standard 3 year warranty are included. Place a deposit now to reserve your L5 and choose the A123 Green Certified Hymotion Installer Partner (CHIP) dealer location of your choice.
Consumer orders placed at this time are expected to ship from our factory in January 2009.
Actual installation date will be scheduled through your local Green CHIP dealer.
After placing your $1000 deposit you will receive a confirmation email that will include a deposit confirmation code and further details on the installation process. Additionally, we will contact you within 5 business days of placing your deposit with your specific target installation timeframe. Deposits are fully refundable for a $75 processing fee up to 30 days prior to your installation date.
Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module for the Toyota Prius
Purchase Price $9995 including installation and standard 3 year warranty
$400 destination fee plus all applicable taxes
Place your $1000 deposit and select your Green CHIP dealer location
Receive deposit confirmation
Receive target install date within 5 business days
Green CHIP dealer will contact you to arrange your installation appointment
Bring your vehicle in, purchase your L5 from your Green CHIP dealer by paying remaining balance including all applicable taxes
Billing Address
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State or Province
Zip Code
Country United States Canada
Phone Number
Email Address
Verify Email Match!No Match!
Do you currently own or plan to purchase a Toyota Prius model years 2004 – 2008?
Our first product, the L5 Plug-in Conversion Module, is only available for the Toyota Prius model years 2004 - 2008. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive product updates, click here.
Do you live in the United States or Canada?
www.a123systems.com/hy...
www.a123systems.com/hy...
Amazing!
You can now get a kit (including installation) valued at $12,000 with a lithium A123 battery pack installed in your Toyota prius with its own warranty (not negating your present warranty with Toyota) that can give you 140 miles/gallon. All you need is a 110 Volt outlet. If you run out of gas, no worry, you can fill up gas as usual if no outlet around, wow! Bad news: long wait, abt. 200 people on list to get them.. You can get on waiting list on website above if you really want to go green.
about us
contact us
faqs
Buy yours now!
Place a deposit online
Plug-in calculator Compare different car types
Join the community
Be a part of the gallery!
A123Systems Hymotion™
Products
P: 877-2GO-PHEV (877-246-7438)
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm EST
Hymotion Certified
Installers
Hymotion Mailing List
Not ready to buy but want
to stay in the know? Join
our mailing list for product
announcements and updates.
A123Systems
The Arsenal on the Charles
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
P: 617-778-5700
a123systems.com
Email
General Information:
info@hymotion.com
Career Opportunities:
a123systems.com
Fleet Owners:
fleets@hymotion.com
Press Inquiries:
press@a123systems.com
Legal | Privacy Policy | Contact
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Click image to enlarge
Mouse over thumbnails to view images
This is a 2009 Prius package 6 touring edition, loaded with every feature. We are the Hymotion Green Chip dealer and have professionally installed the Lithium Battery pack which allows the Prius to travel up to 40 miles on pure electricity. You should achieve fuel economy of 100-150 mpg depending on your driving pattern. The car is still under factory warranty and NO this kit does NOT void the factory warranty. The Hymotion kit also comes with a 3 year warranty as well.
Vehicle Information
Stock No:
831549
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
L4, 1.5L
5 Dr Hatchback
jtdkb20u997831549 Trans:
Drivetrain:
Ext Color:
Int Color:
Automatic
FWD
Light Blue
Gray
Customer Resources
Contact
Green Car Company
Eco-Experts
425-820-4549
345 106TH AVE NE
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
Vehicle Options
----------------------...
Price listed for this vehicle does not include charges such as: License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Taxes, Finance Charges, Optional Credit or Liability Insurance, Delivery Fees, and State Documentary Service Fees. I/O COM, Inc. and the Dealership make no representations, expressed or implied, to any actual or prospective purchaser or owner of this vehicle as to the existence, ownership, accuracy, description or condition of this vehicle's listed equipment, accessories, price or any warranties. I/O COM, Inc and the Dealership are not responsible for typographical errors in price or equipment listed. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to the sale of this vehicle.
www.vehiclemart.com/en...
Home • GCC University • Contact Us • Products • Current Inventory • Site Map • Admin Login • Admin Logout
GCC Privacy Policy
first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids while supporting Plug In America. Unlike other conversions, these Priuses will come with a factory warranty because the Green Car Company is a dealer using A123 Hymotion batteries. Green Car Co. will jump start this offering by donating the profits of the initial sale to PIA. So many PIA members ask us, "where can I get an electric car?" Well now, instead of replying, "they're coming!" we can say, "they're arriving!"
In this edition:
Hail to the Bailout-Plug Ins Included
Funding for banks has been getting a lot of attention lately, but the historic Congressional bailout package also..
2009 Plug In Prius Auction to Benefit Plug In America
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius..
The Electric Car Battery Battle
We are now taking $1000 deposits for the Hymotion™ L5 Plug-in Conversion Modules for the Toyota Prius. The L5 is priced at $9995 + all applicable taxes + $400 destination fee. Installation and a standard 3 year warranty are included. Place a deposit now to reserve your L5 and choose the A123 Green Certified Hymotion Installer Partner (CHIP) dealer location of your choice.
Consumer orders placed at this time are expected to ship from our factory in January 2009.
Actual installation date will be scheduled through your local Green CHIP dealer.
After placing your $1000 deposit you will receive a confirmation email that will include a deposit confirmation code and further details on the installation process. Additionally, we will contact you within 5 business days of placing your deposit with your specific target installation timeframe. Deposits are fully refundable for a $75 processing fee up to 30 days prior to your installation date.
Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module for the Toyota Prius
Purchase Price $9995 including installation and standard 3 year warranty
$400 destination fee plus all applicable taxes
Place your $1000 deposit and select your Green CHIP dealer location
Receive deposit confirmation
Receive target install date within 5 business days
Green CHIP dealer will contact you to arrange your installation appointment
Bring your vehicle in, purchase your L5 from your Green CHIP dealer by paying remaining balance including all applicable taxes
Billing Address
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State or Province
Zip Code
Country United States Canada
Phone Number
Email Address
Verify Email Match!No Match!
Do you currently own or plan to purchase a Toyota Prius model years 2004 – 2008?
Our first product, the L5 Plug-in Conversion Module, is only available for the Toyota Prius model years 2004 - 2008. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive product updates, click here.
Do you live in the United States or Canada?
----------------------...
www.a123systems.com/hy...
www.a123systems.com/hy...
Amazing!
You can now get a kit (including installation) valued at $12,000 with a lithium A123 battery pack installed in your Toyota prius with its own warranty (not negating your present warranty with Toyota) that can give you 140 miles/gallon. All you need is a 110 Volt outlet. If you run out of gas, no worry, you can fill up gas as usual if no outlet around, wow! Bad news: long wait, abt. 200 people on list to get them.. You can get on waiting list on website above if you really want to go green.
about us
contact us
faqs
Buy yours now!
Place a deposit online
Plug-in calculator Compare different car types
Join the community
Be a part of the gallery!
A123Systems Hymotion™
Products
P: 877-2GO-PHEV (877-246-7438)
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm EST
Hymotion Certified
Installers
Hymotion Mailing List
Not ready to buy but want
to stay in the know? Join
our mailing list for product
announcements and updates.
A123Systems
The Arsenal on the Charles
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
P: 617-778-5700
a123systems.com
Email
General Information:
info@hymotion.com
Career Opportunities:
a123systems.com
Fleet Owners:
fleets@hymotion.com
Press Inquiries:
press@a123systems.com
Legal | Privacy Policy | Contact
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Click image to enlarge
Mouse over thumbnails to view images
This is a 2009 Prius package 6 touring edition, loaded with every feature. We are the Hymotion Green Chip dealer and have professionally installed the Lithium Battery pack which allows the Prius to travel up to 40 miles on pure electricity. You should achieve fuel economy of 100-150 mpg depending on your driving pattern. The car is still under factory warranty and NO this kit does NOT void the factory warranty. The Hymotion kit also comes with a 3 year warranty as well.
Vehicle Information
Stock No:
831549
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
L4, 1.5L
5 Dr Hatchback
jtdkb20u997831549 Trans:
Drivetrain:
Ext Color:
Int Color:
Automatic
FWD
Light Blue
Gray
Customer Resources
Contact
Green Car Company
Eco-Experts
425-820-4549
345 106TH AVE NE
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
Vehicle Options
----------------------...
Price listed for this vehicle does not include charges such as: License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Taxes, Finance Charges, Optional Credit or Liability Insurance, Delivery Fees, and State Documentary Service Fees. I/O COM, Inc. and the Dealership make no representations, expressed or implied, to any actual or prospective purchaser or owner of this vehicle as to the existence, ownership, accuracy, description or condition of this vehicle's listed equipment, accessories, price or any warranties. I/O COM, Inc and the Dealership are not responsible for typographical errors in price or equipment listed. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to the sale of this vehicle.
www.vehiclemart.com/en...
Home • GCC University • Contact Us • Products • Current Inventory • Site Map • Admin Login • Admin Logout
GCC Privacy Policy
first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids while supporting Plug In America. Unlike other conversions, these Priuses will come with a factory warranty because the Green Car Company is a dealer using A123 Hymotion batteries. Green Car Co. will jump start this offering by donating the profits of the initial sale to PIA. So many PIA members ask us, "where can I get an electric car?" Well now, instead of replying, "they're coming!" we can say, "they're arriving!"
In this edition:
Hail to the Bailout-Plug Ins Included
Funding for banks has been getting a lot of attention lately, but the historic Congressional bailout package also..
2009 Plug In Prius Auction to Benefit Plug In America
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius..
The Electric Car Battery Battle
We are now taking $1000 deposits for the Hymotion™ L5 Plug-in Conversion Modules for the Toyota Prius. The L5 is priced at $9995 + all applicable taxes + $400 destination fee. Installation and a standard 3 year warranty are included. Place a deposit now to reserve your L5 and choose the A123 Green Certified Hymotion Installer Partner (CHIP) dealer location of your choice.
Consumer orders placed at this time are expected to ship from our factory in January 2009.
Actual installation date will be scheduled through your local Green CHIP dealer.
After placing your $1000 deposit you will receive a confirmation email that will include a deposit confirmation code and further details on the installation process. Additionally, we will contact you within 5 business days of placing your deposit with your specific target installation timeframe. Deposits are fully refundable for a $75 processing fee up to 30 days prior to your installation date.
Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module for the Toyota Prius
Purchase Price $9995 including installation and standard 3 year warranty
$400 destination fee plus all applicable taxes
Place your $1000 deposit and select your Green CHIP dealer location
Receive deposit confirmation
Receive target install date within 5 business days
Green CHIP dealer will contact you to arrange your installation appointment
Bring your vehicle in, purchase your L5 from your Green CHIP dealer by paying remaining balance including all applicable taxes
Billing Address
First Name
Last Name
Address
City
State or Province
Zip Code
Country United States Canada
Phone Number
Email Address
Verify Email Match!No Match!
Do you currently own or plan to purchase a Toyota Prius model years 2004 – 2008?
Our first product, the L5 Plug-in Conversion Module, is only available for the Toyota Prius model years 2004 - 2008. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive product updates, click here.
Do you live in the United States or Canada?
www.a123systems.com/hy...
www.a123systems.com/hy...
Amazing!
You can now get a kit (including installation) valued at $12,000 with a lithium A123 battery pack installed in your Toyota prius with its own warranty (not negating your present warranty with Toyota) that can give you 140 miles/gallon. All you need is a 110 Volt outlet. If you run out of gas, no worry, you can fill up gas as usual if no outlet around, wow! Bad news: long wait, abt. 200 people on list to get them.. You can get on waiting list on website above if you really want to go green.
about us
contact us
faqs
Buy yours now!
Place a deposit online
Plug-in calculator Compare different car types
Join the community
Be a part of the gallery!
A123Systems Hymotion™
Products
P: 877-2GO-PHEV (877-246-7438)
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm EST
Hymotion Certified
Installers
Hymotion Mailing List
Not ready to buy but want
to stay in the know? Join
our mailing list for product
announcements and updates.
A123Systems
The Arsenal on the Charles
321 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
P: 617-778-5700
a123systems.com
Email
General Information:
info@hymotion.com
Career Opportunities:
a123systems.com
Fleet Owners:
fleets@hymotion.com
Press Inquiries:
press@a123systems.com
Legal | Privacy Policy | Contact
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
Click image to enlarge
Mouse over thumbnails to view images
This is a 2009 Prius package 6 touring edition, loaded with every feature. We are the Hymotion Green Chip dealer and have professionally installed the Lithium Battery pack which allows the Prius to travel up to 40 miles on pure electricity. You should achieve fuel economy of 100-150 mpg depending on your driving pattern. The car is still under factory warranty and NO this kit does NOT void the factory warranty. The Hymotion kit also comes with a 3 year warranty as well.
Vehicle Information
Stock No:
831549
2009 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
L4, 1.5L
5 Dr Hatchback
jtdkb20u997831549 Trans:
Drivetrain:
Ext Color:
Int Color:
Automatic
FWD
Light Blue
Gray
Customer Resources
Contact
Green Car Company
Eco-Experts
425-820-4549
345 106TH AVE NE
BELLEVUE, WA 98004
Vehicle Options
----------------------...
Price listed for this vehicle does not include charges such as: License, Title, Registration Fees, State or Local Taxes, Finance Charges, Optional Credit or Liability Insurance, Delivery Fees, and State Documentary Service Fees. I/O COM, Inc. and the Dealership make no representations, expressed or implied, to any actual or prospective purchaser or owner of this vehicle as to the existence, ownership, accuracy, description or condition of this vehicle's listed equipment, accessories, price or any warranties. I/O COM, Inc and the Dealership are not responsible for typographical errors in price or equipment listed. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to the sale of this vehicle.
www.vehiclemart.com/en...
Home • GCC University • Contact Us • Products • Current Inventory • Site Map • Admin Login • Admin Logout
GCC Privacy Policy
first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius Hybrids while supporting Plug In America. Unlike other conversions, these Priuses will come with a factory warranty because the Green Car Company is a dealer using A123 Hymotion batteries. Green Car Co. will jump start this offering by donating the profits of the initial sale to PIA. So many PIA members ask us, "where can I get an electric car?" Well now, instead of replying, "they're coming!" we can say, "they're arriving!"
From: Linda Nicholes [mailto:linda@pluginam...
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 11:12 AM
To: pipano65@hotmail.com
Subject: Plug In America October Newsletter
In this edition:
Hail to the Bailout-Plug Ins Included
Funding for banks has been getting a lot of attention lately, but the historic Congressional bailout package also..
2009 Plug In Prius Auction to Benefit Plug In America
In early November, the Green Car Company of Bellevue, WA will auction on eBAY the first in a series of 2009 Plug In Prius..
Seeking Alpha Stock Market Email Alerts FAQ
Google Patent Taps Ocean's Power
ticker OPTT (see
below) utilizing the ocean waves for energy:
BUSINESS SUMMARY
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. engages in the development and commercialization of proprietary systems that generate electricity by harnessing the renewable energy of ocean waves. The company's product portfolio includes utility PowerBuoy system, which is designed to supply electricity to a local or regional electric power grid; and autonomous PowerBuoy system that is designed to generate power for use independent of the power grid in remote locations. Its customers include public utilities, independent power producers, and other governmental entities and agencies.
The company markets and sells its products in the United States and internationally. Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey.
Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) is a leading renewable energy company specializing in cost-effective, advanced, and environmentally sound offshore wave power technology. The electrical power generated by OPT's technology is key to meeting the energy needs of utilities, independent power producers and the public sector.
OPT's PowerBuoyR system extracts the natural energy in ocean waves, and is based on the integration of patented technologies in hydrodynamics, electronics, energy conversion and computer control systems. The PowerBuoy is a "smart" system capable of responding to differing wave conditions.
The result is a leading edge, ocean-tested, proprietary system which generates reliable, clean, and environmentally-benefi... electricity.
OPT was founded by Dr. George W. Taylor and the late Dr. Joseph R. Burns and began commercial operations in 1994. OPT focuses on its proprietary PowerBuoyR technology, which captures wave energy using large floating buoys anchored to the sea bed and converts the energy into electricity using innovative power take-off systems.
Plethora of Commodities ETFs for Retail Investors
Funny Timing For Commodity ETF
Carl Delfeld, Chartwell Advisor 09.09.08, 1:05 PM ET
row2image
Dugg on Forbes.com
The View From Alaska - Forbes.com
Chavez Nationalizes Fuel Wholesalers - Forbes.com
Rio Tinto Fails The Green Test - Forbes.com
Hollywood's Best Stars For The Buck - Forbes.com
Visit The Forbes.com Digg Channel
The newest member of the Van Eck family of exchange-traded funds is the the Market Vectors-RVE Hard Assets Producers (amex: HAP - news - people ) ETF, which tracks the Rogers-Van Eck Hard Assets Producers Index.
This Rogers-Van Eck index was developed in concert with international investor Jim Rogers, who is well-known as a strategist inclined to have significant exposure to commodities and is negative on U.S. markets and the U.S. dollar.
For the month of July, the index was down roughly 11%, consistent with the pullback in commodities. The ETF basket presently contains 321 securities, and the top 10 companies account for 34% of total assets.
Maximize your portfolio's bounce as global stocks rally and protect it best you can while the bear still prowls. Click for a free trial of Chartwell Global ETF Advisor with model portfolios and new buys.
Energy accounts for 40% of exposure, agriculture is at 30%, and industrial and precious metals have a 21% weighting. The U.S. and Canada comprise 45% of exposure, and another 34 countries account for 26%.
In an interesting twist, the company weightings are done on a global-consumption basis, rather than the conventional market-cap basis.
As much as I disagree with Rogers on the future of the U.S. market and economy, this is a solid choice for investors looking for one ETF to cover what represents 15% of global GDP.
Other good choices are the iPath Dow Jones-AIG Commodity ETN (nyse: DJP - news - people ), which has only 20% exposure to oil and precious metals. I also like using country funds for commodity exposure; for example, holding the Chile Fund (nyse: CF - news - people ) for copper exposure.
Rather than try to time commodities, investors should use allocations as core holdings offering good diversification and low correlation to equity markets. Build incrementally, since prices are likely to fall more before the next leg of the secular bull market kicks in with a global recovery.
Special Offer: Which European markets will move substantially higher? How about Asian plays besides India and China? Latin America? Click here for recommended international equity portfolios--with country ETF allocations and hedging strategies to protect your gains--in Chartwell Global ETF Advisor.
Hong Kong Surges as Democrats Hold Ground
The iShares MSCI Hong Kong (nyse: EWH - news - people ) gapped 2.8% higher at the open Monday, as pro-democracy candidates overcame low voter turnout to do better than expected in Hong Kong's Legislative Council elections Sunday, thereby retaining a critical veto power.
The pro-Beijing forces were able to maintain a majority in the legislature, in part by basking in the nationalistic glow from last month's Olympic games.
Hong Kong voters selected the legislature's 60 members, half of which are directly elected by popular vote, and half chosen by a complicated formula of "functional constituencies" representing professional interest groups, such as bankers and industry.
Only 45% of registered voters took part in this year's ballot, compared with more than 55% in the last election, which took place in 2004 amid deep dissatisfaction with the Beijing-backed government.
While low turnout is normally deadly for the pro-democracy camp, it managed to hold on to 23 seats in the elections, down from 25 four years ago. Although it is far from the majority needed to reject government legislation, it gives the democrats power to veto changes to Hong Kong's "mini constitution," the Basic Law.
Global Slowdown Clobbers Mega-Cap ETFs
Last week was a particularly rough week for global markets and for the mega-cap stocks that make up ETFs, like the iShares S&P Global 100 Index ETF (nyse: IOO - news - people ), which comprises 100 multinational companies selected based on the firm's percentage of foreign assets, revenues and employees. The average market cap is $10 billion, and the fund's holdings are split just about evenly between U.S. and international companies.
We may not technically be in a global recession, but GDP growth projections are coming down pretty much across the board on a daily basis. European companies and Japan are suffering just as much if not more than the U.S., as growth and profit numbers mirror the weakness in global consumer demand.
While the S&P 500 and the Dow each lost about 3% last week, European ETFs lost about 6.8%; Asia fell about 6.5% and Latin America gave up 9.2%. Having a fair amount in cash, trading more actively and allocating limited assets to inverse ETFs has led to the Chartwell World Country ETF Rotation being down about 4.9% year-to-date.
If the iShares S&P Global 100 Index ETF can hold two-year support near $65, it could be a great vehicle to play the coming global rebound, even if its exact arrival time is unclear.
Carl Delfeld is editor of Chartwell ETF Advisor and global strategist for New England Research & Management. Click here for international investment analysis and ETF portfolio recommendations in Chartwell ETF Advisor.
Why Commodities May Be Nearing a Turning Point
Funny Timing For Commodity ETF
Carl Delfeld, Chartwell Advisor 09.09.08, 1:05 PM ET
row2image
Dugg on Forbes.com
The View From Alaska - Forbes.com
Chavez Nationalizes Fuel Wholesalers - Forbes.com
Rio Tinto Fails The Green Test - Forbes.com
Hollywood's Best Stars For The Buck - Forbes.com
Visit The Forbes.com Digg Channel
The newest member of the Van Eck family of exchange-traded funds is the the Market Vectors-RVE Hard Assets Producers (amex: HAP - news - people ) ETF, which tracks the Rogers-Van Eck Hard Assets Producers Index.
This Rogers-Van Eck index was developed in concert with international investor Jim Rogers, who is well-known as a strategist inclined to have significant exposure to commodities and is negative on U.S. markets and the U.S. dollar.
For the month of July, the index was down roughly 11%, consistent with the pullback in commodities. The ETF basket presently contains 321 securities, and the top 10 companies account for 34% of total assets.
Maximize your portfolio's bounce as global stocks rally and protect it best you can while the bear still prowls. Click for a free trial of Chartwell Global ETF Advisor with model portfolios and new buys.
Energy accounts for 40% of exposure, agriculture is at 30%, and industrial and precious metals have a 21% weighting. The U.S. and Canada comprise 45% of exposure, and another 34 countries account for 26%.
In an interesting twist, the company weightings are done on a global-consumption basis, rather than the conventional market-cap basis.
As much as I disagree with Rogers on the future of the U.S. market and economy, this is a solid choice for investors looking for one ETF to cover what represents 15% of global GDP.
Other good choices are the iPath Dow Jones-AIG Commodity ETN (nyse: DJP - news - people ), which has only 20% exposure to oil and precious metals. I also like using country funds for commodity exposure; for example, holding the Chile Fund (nyse: CF - news - people ) for copper exposure.
Rather than try to time commodities, investors should use allocations as core holdings offering good diversification and low correlation to equity markets. Build incrementally, since prices are likely to fall more before the next leg of the secular bull market kicks in with a global recovery.
Special Offer: Which European markets will move substantially higher? How about Asian plays besides India and China? Latin America? Click here for recommended international equity portfolios--with country ETF allocations and hedging strategies to protect your gains--in Chartwell Global ETF Advisor.
Hong Kong Surges as Democrats Hold Ground
The iShares MSCI Hong Kong (nyse: EWH - news - people ) gapped 2.8% higher at the open Monday, as pro-democracy candidates overcame low voter turnout to do better than expected in Hong Kong's Legislative Council elections Sunday, thereby retaining a critical veto power.
The pro-Beijing forces were able to maintain a majority in the legislature, in part by basking in the nationalistic glow from last month's Olympic games.
Hong Kong voters selected the legislature's 60 members, half of which are directly elected by popular vote, and half chosen by a complicated formula of "functional constituencies" representing professional interest groups, such as bankers and industry.
Only 45% of registered voters took part in this year's ballot, compared with more than 55% in the last election, which took place in 2004 amid deep dissatisfaction with the Beijing-backed government.
While low turnout is normally deadly for the pro-democracy camp, it managed to hold on to 23 seats in the elections, down from 25 four years ago. Although it is far from the majority needed to reject government legislation, it gives the democrats power to veto changes to Hong Kong's "mini constitution," the Basic Law.
Global Slowdown Clobbers Mega-Cap ETFs
Last week was a particularly rough week for global markets and for the mega-cap stocks that make up ETFs, like the iShares S&P Global 100 Index ETF (nyse: IOO - news - people ), which comprises 100 multinational companies selected based on the firm's percentage of foreign assets, revenues and employees. The average market cap is $10 billion, and the fund's holdings are split just about evenly between U.S. and international companies.
We may not technically be in a global recession, but GDP growth projections are coming down pretty much across the board on a daily basis. European companies and Japan are suffering just as much if not more than the U.S., as growth and profit numbers mirror the weakness in global consumer demand.
While the S&P 500 and the Dow each lost about 3% last week, European ETFs lost about 6.8%; Asia fell about 6.5% and Latin America gave up 9.2%. Having a fair amount in cash, trading more actively and allocating limited assets to inverse ETFs has led to the Chartwell World Country ETF Rotation being down about 4.9% year-to-date.
If the iShares S&P Global 100 Index ETF can hold two-year support near $65, it could be a great vehicle to play the coming global rebound, even if its exact arrival time is unclear.
Carl Delfeld is editor of Chartwell ETF Advisor and global strategist for New England Research & Management. Click here for international investment analysis and ETF portfolio recommendations in Chartwell ETF Advisor.
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The Electric Car Battery Battle
oil embargo, and California passed an aggressive clean-air mandate, it looked like electric vehicles might get a new lease
on life. But the air cleared and gas prices fell, the mandate was revoked and electric cars all but disappeared.
But now that the polar ice caps are melting and gasoline is taking on the aura of a Cheval Blanc ’53, the electric car
is beginning to look a whole lot more attractive. All of the major domestic and foreign automakers have announced
plans to begin to market some sort of electric vehicle and the only question is when they’ll actually ramp up production. The implications are enormous for the world’s environment, for the auto and petroleum industries, for consumers and, of course, for the electric utility industry.
Sooner or later — and with gas prices what they are, probably sooner — we’ll begin to see meaningful penetration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles, certainly within the next five years. When we do, a key concern is what effect it will have on the grid. Last year, a U.S. Department of Energy study concluded the system has enough excess capacity to recharge 75 percent of the light cars and trucks on the road today if they were electric. EPRI computer models conclude much the same. Based on likely economic and population growth between 2006 and 2030, incremental demand for electricity should grow by a little under 2,000 million megawatt-hours; of that, about 340 million megawatt-hours, or less than one-fifth, would be attributed to PHEVs and EVs. In other words, if capacity must increase approximately 50 percent over the next 25 years, the addition of electric cars won’t matter one way or the other.
In fact, the introduction of the electric car is not much different from the introduction of any new electric appliance.
Rick Tempchin, director of retail distribution policy at the Edison Electric Institute, likens it to the introduction
of plasma televisions. It represents additional demand, but it’s not as though people will rush out to buy them for the
holiday season one year and plug in 40 million new electric cars to charge on Christmas morning. “Once we launch the
technology,” says Tempchin, “we’ll know what to expect and we’ll have time to deal with anything we need to do. That’s
our business. The first vehicle to come to market will be a simple appliance and it will evolve from there.” Nancy Gioia,
director, sustainable mobility, transportation and hybrid programs at Ford, thinks ramp-up to reasonable commercial
production will take a minimum of five years and perhaps a little longer, and while some companies are predicting a
shorter timeline, virtually no realistic scenario presents a threat to the grid.
While a new appliance presents no serious threat to the grid, neither does it represent a sudden windfall for utilities. The
greatest immediate benefit to the utility industry will come in the form of increased efficiency, assuming the new generation
of cars plug in during off-peak hours. And that’s the most likely scenario. Virtually all of the car companies are aiming for an
all-electric range between 20 and 40 miles, whether from a hybrid or a pure electric. Because the average commute falls within that range, cars could conceivably go back and forth to work without using any gas and without needing to recharge during the day. Although most utilities operate in a regulated environment and don’t necessarily realize increased profit from the sale of additional electrons, more efficient operation of installed capacity will benefit the bottom line, and increased use of off-peak capacity will dramatically increase overall efficiency. Furthermore, increased off-peak usage will facilitate the shift to renewable energy. Energy
from wind, for instance, tends to peak during the evening hours, so charging electric vehicles at night would be a perfect opportunity to boost the percentage of electricity generated by wind and, in the process, help utilities meet their renewable mandates. A tangential benefit to plug-in vehicles is that they could eventually function as a distributed energy storage facility for the grid. Their high-density batteries could serve as a widely distributed source of emergency power during periods of excessive peak demand. But this vehicle-to-grid function is at least 20 years down the road — pun intended — which raises the issue again of just what obstacles still need to be overcome before we begin to realize the benefits of the electrification of the transportation system.
The most obvious issue to be addressed is the battery. As of this writing, no battery capable of reliably powering anything larger than a mini-sized Think-type car is in commercial production. Lithium-ion batteries powering test vehicles produced by Ford, GM and Chrysler are built virtually by hand. The lithium-ion battery isn’t the only option. A sodium metal halide battery used in small European electric cars has great promise for certain types of vehicles, such as the hybrid electric locomotive that GE is developing, but for various technical reasons, the consensus is that some form of lithium-ion battery will power cars in this country.
Nissan insists the battery issue will not prevent ramp up of retail production of the company’s planned all-electric
car by 2011. Similarly, GM’s Tony Posawatz, line director for the Chevy Volt, is “very confident” that the automaker’s
partnerships with A123 Systems and Compact Power, a subsidiary of LG Chem of Korea, will yield batteries in
sufficient numbers to assure the launch of the Chevy Volt within the intended 2011 timeframe. But Nancy Gioia of
Ford is more cautious. “It’s going to take a little bit of time and a chunk of change to go from the science lab to the pilot
production phase to mass production of an efficient battery cell line of 10 million units a year.” Among the issues she
believes must be settled before commercial production of the batteries becomes feasible are battery life, reliability and
the ability to operate under broad temperature ranges. More significant from the perspective of utility companies,
plug-in cars will need to communicate intelligently with the grid, and that means smart meters. Plug-in cars can
be charged from any outlet, whether 110 volts or 220 volts, although the higher voltage cuts recharging time in half.
Smart meters will allow utilities to control demand and shape the load and charge customers incentive rates for charging
off-peak. California is ahead of the curve in installing smart meters, according to Efrain Ornelas, environmental technical
supervisor for Pacific Gas and Electric’s clean air transportation department. With a goal of equipping all 5.4 million
customers by 2012, Southern California Edison also intends to fully deploy smart meters to its five million customers by
2012, and utilities across the country are following suit. “We’re working closely with the Society of Automotive Engineers to
develop codes and standards for how vehicles will communicate with the grid,” says PG&E’s Ornelas. “Customers will
be able to program when to charge and to look for specific pricing signals with the option of giving us direct control as
part of a broad demand-response program.” Ultimately, the combination of smart chargers built into the cars and smart meters will permit a roaming capability, which will allow cars to recharge away from their home base, with electricity billed to the car’s owner. But that’s complicated, with transaction costs easily exceeding actual energy costs. With thousands of separate utility entities, it could make the phone industry’s disastrous experience with roaming look mild by comparison. The issue of developing codes and standards that both automakers and utilities can use efficiently points to what is perhaps the most fundamental unresolved issue on which the success of plug-in hybrids and all electric vehicles rests: a shared business model. Ed Kjaer is the
director of electric transportation at Southern California Edison, and before that he held key positions with major
auto manufacturers. He calls the electrification of the automobile a fundamental paradigm shift. “This is not
about the automakers launching the next car model. It’s about how do we integrate transportation into the energy
system,” says Kjaer. “It’s an absolute win-win for two titan industries. If you think of this as part of an energy
system, as opposed to a car, you start to explore some of the values on the utility side of the equation than can be
monetized and returned to the customer in terms of value. For instance, if we connect the wheels to the grid at night,
we’re spreading fixed costs over more energy use and that potentially puts downward pressure on rates.”
The new business model will go far toward defining the future of automakers, utilities, and the economy as a whole. But the challenges are significant. “We announced a partnership with Ford a few months ago, and it took us literally the first
month of talking to each other before we mastered each other’s vernacular,” Kjaer recounts. “The business models
are completely different. Throw out all the old ones. Start with a blank sheet of paper and a whole lot of imagination, and at the end of the day you come up with a shared vision where transportation connects to the grid. Our industries are being driven by the same forces: energy efficiency and environmental impact.”
The environmental impact of electrifying transportation through plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles is clear and incontrovertible. No matter which of nine models is used, regardless of the generation carbon mix, a major study undertaken by EPRI and the National Resource Defense Council concludes that the environmental impact, both in terms of air quality and greenhouse gas emissions will be dramatic, with greenhouse gas emissions reduced by as much as 10.3 billion metric tons by 2050. With inevitable carbon constraints on both the utility and the auto industries, both stand to benefit enormously from the increased efficiency this new technology represents.
The Electric Car Battery Battle
The point is that if EVs really boom, there will obviously be a tremendous need for new electric power sources. If this power comes from conventional systems, a lot of new power plants will have to be built, and a massive amount of fossil or nuclear fuel will have to be produced to run them. The environmental impacts that could result from building and supplying these power plants are staggering. Therefore, unless clean sources of alternative power can be developed cheaply and rapidly enough to power EVs, the so-called miracle car could be just another overhyped technological fix that failed to live up to our glorious expectations. (Like ethanol, or nuclear power that was going to be “too cheap to meter.”)
But even if all these clean-power sources could be developed, we have to seriously consider their possible unintended consequences. How many windmills and in whose backyard? How many thousands of square miles of solar panels and in whose favorite retreats? In our blissful fantasies of technological utopia, we ignore such questions and conveniently forget basic laws of physics and economics.
The Electric Car Battery Battle
Hybrids such as the popular Toyota Prius has a nickel metal hydride battery, which is less powerful than lithium-ion. Automakers are competing to develop lithium-ion batteries for green cars.
The Electric Car Battery Battle
Gene Marcial's Stock Picks September 3, 2008, 12:01AM EST text size: TT
Marcial: A New Spark in Energy Conversion Devices
A restructuring under new CEO Morelli is fueling a turnaround at the alternative energy company, driven by fat profits at its solar products unit
by Gene Marcial
The brightening story at Energy Conversion Devices (ENER), an alternative energy enterprise that makes solar products, rechargeable batteries, and digital storage technology, is attracting investors thanks to the restructuring efforts of CEO and President Mark Morelli, who took over a year ago when the company was in the red. Until the two recent fiscal quarters, Energy Conversion had for many years reported losses. The company's stock, which soared to 71.30 on Sept. 2 from a 52-week low of 20.47 on Jan. 22, hit a 52-week high of 83.33 on June 23.
Some pros see even more spark in Energy Conversion's shares. Brion Tanous, managing director at investment boutique Merriman Curhan Ford, rates the stock a buy and figures it's worth 110 based on projected earnings and the worth of its three major assets, which are all involved in clean energy technology. "The collective value of Energy Conversion's United Solar Ovonics, Cobasys, and Ovonyx businesses is significantly higher than the current stock price," says Tanous.
Although the alternative energy field is getting crowded, Tanous says Energy Conversion is one of the major "pure plays" in high-growth thin-film solar products. Using a film of silicon on a sheet of stainless steel, these products can be more easily installed on rooftops than conventional solar cells, which are produced on a base of polysilicon crystalline covered in glass.
Fat Margins on Solar Sales
The United Solar Ovonics unit, which contributes about 90% of revenues, uses proprietary technology to make thin-film solar photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight into energy. The modules are mainly used for rooftops. Its Cobasys unit, a joint venture with Chevron (CVX), licenses its proprietary nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery technology to hybrid vehicle makers and other manufacturers. Energy's third unit is 30%-owned Ovonyx, which has developed a high-speed memory technology for a variety of applications, including cell phones, digital cameras, and PCs. Several tech companies, including Intel (INTC), have entered into licensing pacts with Energy for the technology.
Tanous figures Energy Conversion's solar business alone is worth 90 a share and Ovonyx about 20. He expects the company to sell its Cobasys operations to a major automaker by yearend, primarily because the unit has been losing money and requires more funding. He values the operations at about $150 million.
For the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30, Energy Conversion posted record revenues and higher net income driven by greater-than-expected gross margins of 33.5% on solar polyvoltaic sales, Tanous notes. Based on the company's higher guidance for 2008 and 2009, he raised his earnings-per-share forecast for fiscal 2009 ending June 30 to $1.61 on revenues of $459.7 million, and to $3.28 for fiscal 2010 on $757.3 million in sales. In fiscal 2008, the company earned a meager 9¢ a share on sales of $255.9 million. The analyst attributes the jump in sales and earnings to a turnaround spurred by Morelli, who cut costs, sold some assets, and focused on commercializing products.
Still a Bargain?
Deutsche Bank (DB) analyst Steve O'Rourke, who is also bullish on the company, says that with the company's continued improvement in operations and rising demand for solar photovoltaic products, he is maintaining his buy rating on the stock. "We view strong solar PV backlog growth as indicative of a substantial turnaround in Energy Conversion's sales distribution channels," and a sign of its competitiveness, says O'Rourke. (Deutsche Bank has done banking for Energy Conversion and owns shares.)
Analysts agree there is strong demand for solar products. Energy Conversion's thin-film solar technology is "superior to and differentiated from the more established and commodity-like polysilicon-based solar technology," says Angelo Zino, an analyst at Standard & Poor's Equity Research (S&P, like BusinessWeek, is owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP). He notes the company has filled its entire fiscal 2009 available capacity and is getting significant purchase orders for its fiscal 2010 planned capacity. However, Zino has a hold opinion on the stock because of its already sharp climb. He's also cautious about the lower barriers to entry into the thin-film solar market.
Nonetheless, some investors and analysts believe Energy Conversion is well-positioned for strong growth for the long haul. That's because demand for alternatives to fossil-fuel generated power "should only increase, given environmental, cost, and geopolitical concerns," says Nils C. Van Liew of independent research firm Value Line. Energy Conversion, says Van Liew, has a good shot at grabbing a bigger share of the solar PV market because its product is lightweight, flexible, and easily integrated into building materials, making it well suited for rooftop installations.
Indeed, as it reshapes its corporate structure and sees healthy global demand for its solar products, Energy Conversion has found a profitable green niche.
Marcial writes the Inside Wall Street column for BusinessWeek. In 2008, FT Press published the book Gene Marcial's 7 Commandments of Stock Investing.
The Electric Car Battery Battle
The Electric Car Battery Battle