Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (HYBR.OB)

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (HYBR.OB) is a forward-thinking company that started developing and marketing battery-powered, zero emission vehicles long before other automotive companies got serious about electric transportation. The company’s products, and progress, have captured the attention of CNN, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, and Wired magazine, as well as other major broadcast and print venues.

Unlike hybrid vehicles that run on both gas and electric, Hybrid Technologies’ vehicles do not require a drop of petroleum to run. In the past, battery-powered transportation wasn’t practical because of long charge times, short driving range, and lack of horsepower. However, through extensive research and development, Hybrid Technologies has overcome these obstacles and has established itself as a leading player within the automotive industry.

Those concerned that electricity costs would rise after switching to “electric fuel” can rest assured that electric vehicles are now so efficient that the cost per mile is still significantly less then gas-fueled transportation. In fact, it only costs about 4-8 cents a mile for electric-powered transportation! Some power companies will even give owners special rates for nighttime charging, since this time slot represents off-peak hours.

Another significant advantage is that electric vehicles are virtually maintenance free because they do not need oil or filter changes. Because they have fewer than 10 percent of the parts a gas-fueled car has, they are the most reliable vehicles on the road. Hybrid’s vehicles also have the potential to last longer than gasoline automobiles, even with less regular maintenance.

In some of the company’s latest news, they announced their entry to win the $10 Million Dollar Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, which will be awarded to the contestant presenting the most sensible new generation of super-efficient yet consumer-oriented mainstream vehicles that radically reduces oil consumption and harmful emissions.

The company has plans to obliterate the competition with a new model that is far superior to both a Corvette and a Prius in their respective areas of specialization. When asked if the X Prize entry would hit the 600+ horsepower level, Ron Cerven, a project engineer, laughed and replied that Popular Mechanics was “way out of the ballpark—it’s gonna be wild.”

You will definitely want to keep this company on strong watch as they continue to lead the charge in improving the driving range, horsepower, and efficiency of electric vehicles.

MyECheck, Inc. (MYEC.OB)

MyECheck, Inc. (MYEC.OB) has something no other company has. Using their proprietary, patented method of creating and clearing remotely created checks, they are able to provide ecommerce sites with financial access to more US consumers than any other payment method currently available. Without requiring a physical check, their payment solution is exceedingly fast, secure and convenient for both the seller and the buyer.

Even with the popularity of credit cards, checks are still the number one non-cash payment method in the United States. In fact, up to 50% of adults either have no credit card or have insufficient credit available on their cards, meaning that as many as 80 million adults aren’t able to buy merchandise online where credit cards are required.

MyECheck recognized this opportunity for capitalization and carefully developed a cutting-edge system that could debit every single U.S. checking account. The system verifies the bank account, checks national negative databases and profiles the transaction using proprietary shopping-pattern algorithms and continuously updates this database with check writing histories. The company stands behind this system by offering full liability coverage for all approved transactions, guaranteeing 100% reimbursement of all returned checks.

Although ACH is a comparable payment solution, it suffers from several shortcomings. First, all of the transactions are governed by NACHA, which enforces a significant number of rules and regulations. They also have a lengthy clearing period, giving the recipient no way to determine if the transaction is even going to clear; actually, there are over 60 reasons why a transaction can fail. ACH is also unable to debit all U.S. checking accounts, unlike MyECheck’s solution.

All of the benefits presented by MyECheck’s payment method have led to rapid growth of the company’s client base. In September alone they signed on QuickMedical, CardinalCommerce, Urgent Care Billing & Collections of America, American Science & Surplus, and 25 other ecommerce sites. It’s easy to see why, as MyECheck provides faster clearing and funds availability, substantially reduces charge-backs and risks, and improves cash-flow, all at a substantially lower cost than credit or debit cards.

Business-to-consumer ecommerce continues its double-digit year-over-year growth rate, which is partly caused by consumers shifting away from brick-and-mortar stores to online retailers. With U.S. online retail reaching the $175 billion mark in 2007, and Forrester Research projections pegged at $335 billion by 2012, it is no wonder that MyECheck is on our list of recommendations.

Performance Health Technologies, Inc. (PFMH.OB)

Performance Health Technologies, Inc. (PFMH.OB) was introduced to the publicly traded markets less than two months ago, and currently has a 30-day average volume of more than 55,000 traded shares. The company’s goal is to revolutionize the way individuals exercise, train and rehab from injuries by creating innovative exercise products. By using their Core:Tx device, rehabilitation therapists are able to restore normal movement in patients with neuromuscular impairments resulting from trauma, medical conditions and neurological conditions, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Because the company’s products serve multiple industries, numerous opportunities abound for capitalization. In rehabilitation, Performance Health Technologies has a foothold with their cutting-edge product SportsRAC, which helps patients naturally build back their function. In fitness, their MotionTrack product delivers wireless motion and position-tracking technology that helps athletes and fitness enthusiasts significantly increase joint and muscle control, as well as strength, general fitness, coordination and balance. In Home Care, the company allows patients to perform rehab within the comfort of their own homes, while still staying connected to therapists.

Performance Health Technologies has performed comprehensive research within the medical community and understands that therapists need to provide more therapy within an increasingly shorter time frame. Through their efforts, and by utilizing an integrated database, their technology is able to store patient results, create an efficient tool for medical billing and records administration, and motivate patients to become engaged in working toward recovery.

Currently, the company is working on updating Core:Tx to significantly shrink and lighten the device, add the ability to read movement in multiple directions, and include multi-use capabilities for a more complex exercise program. In order to bring even greater accuracy and improve signal strength, the new Core:Tx will be designed to run on Bluetooth technology. The device is expected to be introduced to the market alongside the company’s next generation Core:Tx software, which will allow physical therapists to better connect to their in-home patients via the Internet.

The company is well-positioned in a market that is anticipated to grow by 20 percent per year, reaching approximately $4 billion worldwide in the next two years. Performance Health Technologies has made it clear they are dedicated to meeting this demand by converging their team’s clinical knowledge with cutting-edge technology. This is one you will definitely want to keep an eye on!