Hyliion Holdings Reports Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE American: HYLN) (“Hyliion”), a developer of sustainable electricity-producing technology, reported its third-quarter 2024 financial results on Nov 14th, 2024.

“Hyliion is pleased to report several exciting developments this quarter, including a significant contract with the ONR, the planned development of a 2-megawatt KARNO system, and customer commitments in excess of our 2025 production capacity”

Key Business Highlights

• On track to deliver initial customer units by year-end and reaffirms guidance of low double-digit millions in revenue for 2025
• Secured customer commitments exceeding 2025 KARNO™ generator production capacity
• Announced revenue recognition beginning in Q4 2024 for military development projects
• Announced plans to develop a 2-megawatt KARNO generator product targeting the data center market, with expected deployment in 2026
• Awarded a contract for up to $16.0 million by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR) to explore the KARNO generator for Navy ships and stationary power
• Executed an LOI with ANA, a leader in industrial equipment, for up to 6 KARNO units in mobile power applications
• Announced the KARNO generator qualifies under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard using renewable fuels such as landfill gas, biogas and hydrogen
• Successfully demonstrated the KARNO generator’s fuel-agnostic capabilities by transitioning between multiple fuel types without interrupting operation
• Ended the quarter with $237.5 million of cash and investments
• Confirmed guidance of approximately $55 million in cash expenditures in 2024 for KARNO development including capital investments

Executive Commentary

“Hyliion is pleased to report several exciting developments this quarter, including a significant contract with the ONR, the planned development of a 2-megawatt KARNO system, and customer commitments in excess of our 2025 production capacity,” stated Thomas Healy, Hyliion’s Founder and CEO. “These milestones highlight the strong demand for the KARNO generator and its versatility as a power generation solution across multiple applications. We are also looking forward to our first customer deliveries later this year, followed by a ramp-up in deliveries throughout next year.”

KARNO Commercial Updates

Hyliion is developing a locally deployable 200kW generator system which it intends to deliver to initial customers beginning in late 2024. Target markets in the commercial power space include EV Charging, Data Centers, Waste Gas & Heat, Prime Power, and Mobility applications. Initial customer deployments will target these markets to demonstrate the versatility of the KARNO generator as well as key product attributes and differentiators versus competing technologies, including efficiency, emissions, fuel flexibility, and operating and maintenance costs. The Company will also garner useful feedback and information on the performance of the generator in these early deployments.

The Company announced during the quarter that a new contract with the Office of Naval Research, combined with two earlier contracts, will provide revenue of up to $17.2 million to perform research and development services related to KARNO generator applications for the U.S. Navy, including the purchase of up to seven KARNO generators. Hyliion believes the KARNO generator can provide a versatile, efficient, and reliable power solution to meet the unique demands of U.S. naval operations in maritime environments. Upon successful validation and demonstration, the KARNO generator could be used as an electric power system in future maritime platforms and for stationary power needs.

Hyliion anticipates beginning to recognize revenue in the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the development work and delivery of KARNO units associated with the military contracts.

Hyliion has now secured customer commitments exceeding its 2025 production capacity, with additional letters of intent already in place for 2026 deliveries. During the quarter, Hyliion announced the execution of a letter of intent (LOI) with ANA, a leading provider of innovative and reliable solutions in the industrial equipment industry, to procure up to six KARNO generators and launch a mobile generator application pilot trial. These customer commitments are executed as non-binding LOIs and are subject to the execution of definitive sales agreements prior to deliveries.

In addition, Hyliion’s KARNO generator, when operating on select renewable fuels, is set to qualify as an eligible technology under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) following the passage of Assembly Bill 1921. This eligibility positions KARNO technology to support California’s climate goals by delivering a versatile, low-emission power generation solution capable of utilizing renewable fuels such as landfill gas, biogas, and hydrogen.

KARNO Generator Development

The Company announced plans today to develop a 2-megawatt KARNO generator system tailored to meet the growing electricity demands of data center operations, driven by the rapid expansion of computing needs and artificial intelligence applications. The generator will provide data centers with a high-power, efficient, and low emission solution within a compact footprint roughly the size of a 20-foot shipping container. The KARNO generator’s unique fuel flexibility and high-power density offer data center operators an advantage over other conventional power solutions. The Company expects initial 2-megawatt systems to be deployed in 2026.

Hyliion successfully demonstrated the KARNO generator’s fuel-agnostic capabilities by transitioning between multiple fuel types during operation without interruption. This achievement highlights the generator’s ability to handle impure or mixed fuels, making it ideal for applications in industries like oil and gas, waste gas recovery, and other environments where fuel flexibility is advantageous.

Hyliion continued to take delivery of additive printing machines during the quarter at its Austin, Texas manufacturing facility and placed orders for additional printer deliveries extending through mid 2025. The Company expects to take delivery of its first M Line production additive printer from Colibrium Additive, a GE Aerospace company, in the coming weeks. These advanced printers are designed for volume production and will assist with Hyliion’s production ramp.

Financial Highlights and Guidance

Third quarter operating expenses totaled $14.2 million, compared to $33.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Expenses were offset by a credit of $929 thousand from the sale of assets related to the discontinued powertrain business. Net loss in the third quarter was $11.2 million, compared with $30.3 million in the third quarter of 2023. Year-to-date net loss through September 2024 was $37.7 million, down significantly from $94.4 million during the first three quarters of 2023. Losses in 2023 were primarily driven by spending related to Hyliion’s discontinued powertrain business.

Total changes in cash and investment balances for the quarter were $11.2 million, driven by net operating losses and capital expenditures, partly offset by cash generated from interest income and powertrain asset sales. Total cash and investments at the end of the quarter were $237.5 million.

For 2024, total cash consumed for KARNO development and capital investments is expected to be approximately $55 million. This estimate excludes cash payments associated with share repurchases that have already been conducted during 2024, and payments and asset sales associated with the wind down of powertrain operations. Hyliion continues to expect it will achieve commercialization of the KARNO generator with capital on hand.

Projections for 2025 include growth of KARNO generator deliveries, with proceeds from sales and research and development services in the low double-digit millions of dollars. The Company is also targeting approximately break-even gross margins on a cash basis by late 2025 or early 2026, with cash spending to grow modestly compared to 2024.

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