Amazon acquires right to buy stake in fuel cell maker Plug Power

[SAN FRANCISCO] Amazon.com Inc has acquired the right to buy up to 23 per cent of hydrogen fuel cell maker Plug Power Inc, in a deal giving the retailer powerful batteries that promise to speed up work in its warehouses, Plug Power said on Wednesday.

Latham, New York-based Plug Power was valued at US$319 million as of Tuesday's market close. Amazon must spend at least US$600 million over the life of its contract with Plug Power for its warrants to fully vest.

The world's largest online retailer will equip forklifts at 11 warehouses this year with hydrogen fuel cells so they can lift more goods before running out of juice, as well as charge faster, Plug Power's chief executive Andy Marsh said in an interview. Amazon will spend US$70 million on the deal in 2017 and likely twice that next year, he said.

"Fulfillment centres are traditionally fairly low tech," said Mr Marsh, explaining that labour as well as physical space could be freed up by moving away from batteries requiring lots of attention.

While only a tiny fraction of forklifts globally are powered by hydrogen fuel, Wal-Mart Stores Inc already uses Plug Power's technology in its warehouses and is a top customer, according to Marsh.

The retailer is locked in a fight with Amazon for share of US shoppers' wallets.

REUTERS