Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy approved a $6 million funding for Ford Motor Company and Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos National Laboratory), used to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology (hydrogen fuel cell technology).

Ford Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

Representative Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, co-announced the passage of the grant.In a statement, Dingell said, "Ford Motor Company is helping to lead the way in research and development of the next generation of technologies that will make America's vehicles cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient. This announcement will help accelerate U.S. innovation in clean energy technology and ensure that Michigan and the U.S. are at the forefront of research and development efforts for the cars and trucks of the future."

Within the press release, Ford Motor Company stated, "Our company is honored that the U.S. Department of Energy has selected us to be responsible for the development of this project. This authorization will further advance our research and development efforts to develop the next generation of automotive technology."

Dearborn automakers will use the funding to develop low-cost product systems for use with hydrogen fuel cells, which are so expensive that few models on the market utilize this type of cell. Even if they did, they are not competitively priced.

Toyota has been selling the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in California since late last year, but only sold a total of 270 units in the first seven months of this year, as the model has a starting price of $58,000 (after federal and state taxes). The down payment is $4,000, and if the consumer leases it, the cost is no less than $600/month. Today, California has fewer than 30 hydrogen fueling stations, and the state plans to add new ones in the next two years.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Shinzo Abe) regarded hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as part of the "hydrogen society", and hydrogen fuel cells will also become the main source of energy for heating and cooling systems in buildings. The Japanese government plans to spend 42.5 billion yen (about 385 million U.S. dollars), used as a subsidy for the purchase of hydrogen-fueled vehicles and the construction of hydrogen refueling stations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.

Hydrogen and fuel cells increased from $1.3 billion in 2013 to $2.2 billion in 2014, according to the 2014 Fuel Cell Technology Market Report published by the U.S. Department of Energy.Global shipments of fuel cells in 2014 grew by 50,000 units.

Honda will sell its Honda Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in the U.S. this year, while Hyundai is offering a fuel cell version of its Tucson crossover. General Motors, meanwhile, is working on a fuel cell pack and hydrogen storage tank at Honda that the company hopes to have on the market by 2020.

Ford Motor Company joined the demonstration project between 2005-2009, largely funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, and deployed 30 Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles in the test vehicle for the project's research.

Metro Energy (5.59,0.510,10.04%) 12 evening announcement, Metro Energy intends to set up a grandson company Metro Power to contribute 398.6 million to acquire 49.6% equity of DLN Power; subsidiary Metro Financial Control intends to increase its capital by 150 million plus no more than 700 million to acquire Hangzhou Xinhehui Internet Financial Service Company Limited, and after the completion of the company, it will acquire 34% Equity.

New energy to help the energy industry

It is understood that Metro Energy subsidiary Zhejiang Metro Inkene Technology Co., Ltd. and Hangzhou Shuihan Investment Management Partnership intend to jointly invest 100 million yuan to set up Metro Power Battery Partnership, (of which Metro Inkene invested 51 million yuan to hold shares of 51% for Metro Power executive affairs partner, Hangzhou Shuihan invested 49 million yuan to hold shares of 49%). Metropolis power intends to not more than 396.8 million yuan in cash acquisition of time and space power, Shanghai XiaYi combined holdings of DLN power 49.6% of equity, after the completion of the Metropolis power to become the single largest shareholder of DLN power. Industry insiders analyze, this is since December 2015, the subsidiary Metropolis Inkene was established, around the graphene in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors will have significant progress in the application of graphene. The person in charge of securities of Metro Energy said that after the completion of this transaction, the company will enter the field of new energy batteries, which is in line with the company's "energy-driven (traditional energy + new energy)" strategic positioning, which is conducive to further consolidate the company's energy business, and will have a positive impact on the company's financial position and operating results, which is in line with the interests of all shareholders of the company.

Integration of resources into a variety of financial sectors

According to the announcement, Metro Energy's subsidiary Metro Financial Control signed the "Agreement on Intention of Equity Acquisition and Capital Increase" with Zhejiang Jijie Holding Company Limited and Hangzhou Xinhehui Internet Financial Service Company Limited (hereinafter referred to as Xinhehui), intending to increase the capital of Xinhehui with no more than RMB 150 million in cash to acquire its 6% equity, and intending to acquire 28% equity of Xinhehui held by Jijie Holding with no more than RMB 700 million. Not more than RMB 700 million to acquire the equity of Xinhehui 28% held by the support set holding, after the completion of the transaction, Metro Financial Holdings holds a total of 34% equity of Xinhehui. It is understood that since the establishment of Xinhehui in 2014, Xinhehui has become one of the largest professional short-term financial management platforms in China based on the depth of understanding of the bridge financial business, with the capital bridge business as a breakthrough. In terms of assets, Xinhehui has formed three series of nearly 20 products, namely, banking and securities finance, margin, and securities value, and has helped more than 5,000 high-quality small and micro-enterprises in total. It has set up branch offices or offices in 28 cities, including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Lu, and Guangdong, and has provided a total of 70 billion yuan of funds. As for the funding platform, after more than 2 years of development, Xinhehui has continuously realized breakthroughs in transaction volume of 30 billion yuan, 40 billion yuan and 50 billion yuan in 2016, and now the cumulative number of registered users is more than 5.5 million people, and the cumulative number of investors is more than 346,000 people. Xinhehui is the vice-chairman unit of Zhejiang Internet Finance Union, the executive chairman unit of Hangzhou Internet Finance Industry Association, and became the first batch of member units of China Internet Finance Association in 2016.

Mr. Weng Yongtang, Executive Vice President of Metro Energy, said, following the release of the company's "energy-led + financial innovation" strategy in early 2016, the company's management has been looking for suitable opportunities, and this acquisition further strengthens the company's strategic intent and determination to cultivate a new energy and financial service platform in China. In the future, the company will continue to carry out mergers and acquisitions and explore in the upstream and downstream industrial chain of lithium-ion battery and new financial field. Strengthen industrial synergy and complementarity, laying a good foundation for the realization of the company's long-term strategic goals.