Micah,
I agree with some of your points, specifically the lack of communication with regard to the ERC pilot project. I think clarification about it's status would go a long way with shareholders without requiring too much effort.
That being said, while I certainly welcome and respect your opinion, I think your perception of reality is slightly off. A lot of people seem to have tunnel vision when it comes to the scooter and over look the main message. Their recent demonstration wasn't about producing a commercially viable scooter. Patrick Dodd clearly states in the video they're not attempting to enter the Scooter business.
Two things here:
1.) If you want to focus on the scooter & pick it a part, it's important to realize that this is a prototype demonstration, the first of it's kind. Each and every iteration from here on forward will only be more refined/efficient etc. This is not to mention the fact that staying inline with Mantra's business model, if someone who specializes in the manufacture & sale of scooters decides to license Mantra's technology, I think it's reasonable to assume they will be able to produce a much more robust product than Mantra alone.
2.) If you look at the main message, however, the purpose of this demonstration was to show that Mantra can implement their technology in a real world application and show that it works. This was an educational video, created to raise awareness of a first of it's kind technology, an ice breaker if you will. The big picture is that Mantra's MRFC working in tandem with their ERC technology by using & recycling C02 to create fuel; the fuel cell by itself, in a scooter is just an afterthought in my opinion.
Either way, one deal, whether it's to license the tech out for scooters, or for C02 recycling & energy storage for any one major emitter (Lafarge) would certainly propel the company to new highs. When or if this comes to fruition I do not know. I do know that they seem to be making great strides, especially when compared to just last year at this time, and they seem to be raising more and more awareness.
-Swan
