Totally off topic

[Diamond Lil]

The Bloom Box (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6228923n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel)

If only works out!

[echo3]

Nick just sent that to me yesterday. He is very excited about the possibilities.

[EZE RIDER]

I'm excited about it too. I'm surprised they didnt mention it's possible applications for electric vehicles as well. Thanks for the link.

[Vrod-Brad]

Bloomin' unbelievable...

[Diamond Lil]

They can put one in our home. We'll test it.

[Heavens Thunder]

Sounds like a nice machine and time will tell.The cost will be the important factor at our level.

[Diamond Lil]

Yes, it will be Jeff. He was thinking $2000 for a residential unit.

[LunaTique]

I watched the 60 minute show They didn't come out and say but I think you have to have access to Natural Gas to utilize this. It still needs a fuel supply to run.

Where I live natural gas is NOT an option.

[Diamond Lil]

LT, I think they did say it on the website video. What I may have heard though is that it can run on many different types of fuel, but natural gas is what the test units have been put out using.

[EZE RIDER]

I noticed in the beginning of the story they did make it seem as if the box itself was to produce all the power you need until well into the story when they said you do need fuel to run it. Any type of fuel gas (natural gas, hydrogen or propane) will do. One thing they left us hanging with was they also said it would provide the power wirelessly but never explained how.

If I didnt see it in use at those large companies I would be very skeptical but I do think it's the future.

[LunaTique]

Think Plug Power. Another great idea that never panned out

[Diamond Lil]

...
If I didnt see it in use at those large companies I would be very skeptical but I do think it's the future.

That is what intrigued me about the whole thing. Those companies are not light weight and are consumers of a decent amount of power. It seems to be working out well for them.

[Diamond Lil]

"...Bloom has not called a great deal of attention to its service contract, which covers the cost of maintenance and upgrades. How long will the individual fuel cells last before they need to be replaced? To a customer, it doesn't matter. How many fuel cells will need to be replaced over the life of its server? Again, it's an irrelevant question. If something breaks, Bloom fixes it, for free. If something needs replacing, Bloom takes care of it. It's why so may top-tier companies were on stage backing Bloom...."

"...But for the customer, the bottom line is the bottom line.

I spoke with T.J. Rodgers, an engineer, chief executive of Cypress Semiconductor, and a Bloom board member, where I asked about the service contract. Does it matter if a fuel cell fails? What does the service contract say? "It doesn't matter," Rodgers said. "All I pay for is the fuel."

If they were smart, Bloom's sales executives will use the same line in future contracts. I overheard Scott Sandell, a partner with New Enterprise Associates and a Bloom board member, telling another VC that Bloom soon hopes to sign a contract with a customer that will "make the company". Sandell also pointed out, publicly, that Bloom's costs have dropped by more than 25 times since 2004, with the implications that they'll drop further...."

Read on (http://www.goodcleantech.com/2010/02/bloom_energy_its_the_economics.php)

[Diamond Lil]

Update
Bloom Energy breaks out to Delaware, scores huge utility deal (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/09/idUS122930840320110609)

[J. R. Weems]

page not found here??? :(

[Diamond Lil]

Maybe go to Reuters and search the title: http://www.reuters.com
Bloom Energy breaks out to Delaware, scores huge utility deal