FuelCellStocks.Com
Investing in Fuel Cells and the Hydrogen Economy
Publicly Traded Fuel Cell Stocks
Astris Energi Inc.
2175-6 Dunwin Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L5L 1X2
Tel: 1 905 608 2000
Fax: 1 905 608 8222
Email: questions@astris.ca
Founded in 1983 by Jiri Nor, Astris’ President and
CEO, who helped develop the very first working alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
in Canada when at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Hydrogen
Systems. Three years later, he raised private capital to acquire the
assets of the Institute, including alkaline fuel cell (AFC) intellectual
property.
The mission of Astris is to become the leading provider
of affordable fuel cells and fuel cell power generators.
Over the past 21 years, Astris has become the world’s
leading AFC technology company, having invested more than $17 million
in developing an AFC that, relative to other fuel cells, has low material
costs, high efficiency. Additionally, it has rapid start-up, even in
sub-zero temperatures. R&D continues to further improve capabilities
and reduce costs to establish the AFC as the leading fuel cell for smaller
applications requiring up to approximately 50 kW.
Astris is the only publicly traded company focused on
alkaline fuel cell technology in North America. The Company went public
through a reverse takeover in 1995 to broaden its access to capital.
It currently trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol ASRNF.
Its business plan includes a move to the Nasdaq Small Cap market in
2005.
A late stage development company, Astris advanced to the
pilot production stage in 2004, with the launch of its third generation
fuel cell module, the POWERSTACK™ MC250, and sufficient funding
to assemble pre-production equipment at Astris s.r.o. The Company will
develop small-volume production assembly to validate that the technology
can be mass produced, while concurrently continuing to develop the durability
and power of its alkaline fuel cell.
Astris is in negotiations with some potential first partners,
which will determine the first prototypes and, ultimately, the first
applications of its fuel cell. The Company plans to fund this pilot
production stage through private investors, product sales, and business
partnerships.
Astris has a strong management team including financial,
marketing and business development expertise. It has a world class technical
team with depth of experience in the fuel cell industry. Management
is executing a business plan based on a realistic perspective of the
main growth drivers and challenges to be addressed.
Astris is based in Mississauga, Canada, where corporate
functions including R&D, sales and marketing are centred. The Company
has an affiliate in the Czech Republic, Astris s.r.o., that produces
the anodes and cathodes for its fuel cells and is gearing up for pilot
production of the POWERSTACK™ MC 250.