Jack,
I'm only recently heard of PLUG and yet to invest, but I really wonder if this isn't just the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end.
I'm old, I don't know that I'll live to see it, but I suspect that the world is rapidly starting to recognize that climate change is real and things need to really change if we're to continue living on our planet.
I hate to say that Shell is making the right move, but they may be. Why? Not because fuel cells won't work well in cars, they could, but because new battery technologies are improving what can be done with batteries to the point where neither range or charging time is a serious problem. In the meantime, however, batteries won't be the answers to long distant truck, train, shipping, or air transportation, hydrogen should be the answer. Whether it's fuel cells running electric motors, or hydrogen rather than JP-5 or diesel actually propelling aircraft, ships, yachts. etc. time will tell.
I know that right now companies are working on commercial aircraft that fly short distance commuter flights with battery powered motors providing the thrust. I don't know if larger range would be accomplished with fuel cells driving electric motors, or hydrogen replacing JP-5 in jet engines, but either are possible. Batteries might be okay for yachts only intended for harbor hopping at no more than say 100 miles, but for world travel, fuel cells will be the answer.
My point is the industry is just approaching the end of the beginning. Even electric cars will be supported by fuel cells as infrastructure may not support chargers on all the nations highways, but fuel cells could easily be strategically located to provide charging stations and their hydrogen tanks refueled far less frequently than most gas stations receive gasolene. In fact, truckers could refill their fuel celled powered trucks at the same place that multiple charging stations were available for car charging.
I don't know if this is the biggest reason to invest in PLUG, but I like the fact that PLUG seems to be involved with all aspects of using hydrogen, not just supplying the hydrogen itself. I hope others will address this, and feel free to point out other companies I should also consider.
As an investor, I might add, that I think the likelihood of a $4 company going to $8 is greater than a $150 company going to $300, so I tend to invest in smaller companies, some even sub-penny, knowing they may go belly up, but if they're successful the percentage gains can be spectacular.
Gary
Bullish
