The Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan Adoption Agreement



 Exhibit 10.4 
 NOTE: Execution of this Adoption Agreement creates a legal liability of the Employer with significant tax consequences to the Employer and Participants. The Employer should obtain legal and tax advice from its professional advisors
before adopting the Plan. Principal Life Insurance Company disclaims all liability for the legal and tax consequences which result from the elections made by the Employer in this Adoption Agreement. 
  

					
		  		  	Principal Life Insurance Company, Raleigh, NC 27612
		  		  	A member of the Principal Financial Group®

 THE EXECUTIVE NONQUALIFIED “EXCESS” PLAN 
 ADOPTION AGREEMENT 
 THIS AGREEMENT is
the adoption by Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (the “Company”) of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan (“Plan”). 
 WITNESSETH: 
 WHEREAS, the Company desires to adopt the Plan as an unfunded, nonqualified deferred
compensation plan; and 
 WHEREAS, the provisions of the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code
and the regulations thereunder and shall apply to amounts subject to section 409A; and 
 WHEREAS, the Company has been advised by Principal
Life Insurance Company to obtain legal and tax advice from its professional advisors before adopting the Plan, 
 NOW, THEREFORE, the Company
hereby adopts the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Adoption Agreement: 
 ARTICLE 1 
 Terms used in this Adoption Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Plan, unless some other meaning is expressly herein set forth. The Employer
hereby represents and warrants that the Plan has been adopted by the Employer upon proper authorization and the Employer hereby elects to adopt the Plan for the benefit of its Participants as referred to in the Plan. By the execution of this
Adoption Agreement, the Employer hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan. 
 ARTICLE II 
 The Employer hereby makes the following designations or elections for the purpose of the Plan: 
 2.6 Committee: The duties of the Committee set forth in the Plan shall he satisfied by: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Company
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	The administrative committee appointed by the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board.
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	Board.
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	Other (specify):                     .








 2.8 Compensation: The “Compensation” of a Participant shall mean all of a Participant’s:

  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Base salary.
			
	XX	  	(b)	  	Service Bonus.
			
	XX	  	(c)	  	Performance-Based Compensation earned in a period of 12 months or more.
			
	     
	  	(d)	  	Commissions.
			
	     
	  	(e)	  	Compensation received as an Independent Contractor reportable on Form 1099.
			
	     
	  	(f)	  	Other:                     .

 2.9 Crediting Date: The Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant shall be credited with the amount of
any Participant Deferral to such account at the time designated below: 
  

					
	     
	  	(a)	  	The last business day of each Plan Year.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	This last business day of each calendar quarter during the Plan Year.
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	The last business day of each month during the Plan Year.
			
	     
	  	(d)	  	The last business day of each payroll period during the Plan Year.
			
	     
	  	(e)	  	Each pay day as reported by the Employer.
			
	XX	  	(f)	  	Any business day on which Participant Deferrals are received by the Provider.
			
	     
	  	(g)	  	Other:                     .

 2.13 Effective Date: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	This is a newly-established Plan, and the Effective Date of the Plan is August 1, 2007.
			
	 —
	  	(b)	  	This is an amendment and restatement of a plan named                      with an
effective date of                     . The Effective Date of this amended and restated Plan is
                    . This is amendment number
                    .

  

																			
		  		  		 		 		  		  		 	    	  	(i)	  	All amounts in Deferred Compensation Accounts shall be subject to the provisions of this amended and restated Plan.
										
		  		  		 		 		  		  		 	    	  	(ii)	  	Any Grandfathered Amounts shall be subject to the Plan rules in effect on October 3, 2004.

  

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 2.20 Normal Retirement Age: The Normal Retirement Age of a Participant shall be: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Age 65.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	The later of age      or the      anniversary of the participation commencement date. The participation commencement date is the first day
of the first Plan Year in which the Participant commenced participation in the Plan.
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	Other:                     .

 2.23 Participating Employer(s): As of the Effective Date, the following Participating Employer(s) are
parties to the Plan: 
  

							
	 Name of Employer
	  	 Address
	  	 Telephone No.
	  	 EIN

	 Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies
	  	17872 Cartwright Rd.	  	949-399-4569	  	33-093307:
				
	 Worldwide, Inc.
	  	Irvine, CA 92614	  		  	

 2.26 Plan: The name of the Plan is: 
 The Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan of Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. 
 2.28 Plan
Year: The Plan Year shall end each year on the last day of the month of December. 
 2.30 Seniority Date: The date on which a Participant
has: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Attained age 65.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Completed      Years of Service from First Date of Service.
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	Attained age      and completed      Years of Service from First Date of Service.
			
	     
	  	(d)	  	Attained an age as elected by the Participant.
			
	     
	  	(e)	  	Not applicable – distribution elections for Separation from Service are not based on Seniority Date

  

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 4.1 Participant Deferral Credits: Subject to the limitations in Section 4.1 of the Plan, a Participant may
elect to have his Compensation (as selected in Section 2.8 of this Adoption Agreement) deferred within the annual limits below by the following percentage or amount as designated in writing to the Committee: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Base salary:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or         %


			
	XX	  	(b)	  	Service Bonus:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or         %


			
	XX	  	(c)	  	Performance-Based Compensation:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or
        %

			
	     
	  	(d)	  	Commissions:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or
        %

			
	     
	  	(e)	  	Form 1099 Compensation:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or
        %

			
	     
	  	(f)	  	Other:
			
		  		  	 minimum deferral:         %

			
		  		  	 maximum deferral: $         or
        %

			
	     
	  	(g)	  	Participant deferrals not allowed.

  

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 4.2 Employer Credits: Employer Credits will be made in the following manner: 
  

										
	XX	  	(a)	  	Employer Discretionary Credits: The Employer may make discretionary credits to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Active Participant in an amount determined as follows:

					
		  		  	XX	  	(i)	 	 	An amount determined each Plan Year by the Employer.
					
		  		  	    	  	(ii	)	 	Other:                     .
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Other Employer Credits: The Employer may make other credits to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Active Participant in an amount determined as
follows:
					
		  		  	    	  	(i	)	 	An amount determined each Plan Year by the Employer.
					
		  		  	    	  	(ii	)	 	Other:                     .
			
	     
	  	(c)	  	Employer Credits not allowed.

 5.2 Disability of a Participant: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Participants may elect upon initial enrollment to have accounts distributed upon becoming Disabled.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Participants may not elect to have accounts distributed upon becoming Disabled.

 5.3 Death of a Participant: If the Participant dies while in Service, the Employer shall pay a benefit to
the Beneficiary in an amount equal to the vested balance in the Deferred Compensation Account of the Participant determined as of the date payments to the Beneficiary commence, plus: 
  

					
	     
	  	(a)	  	An amount to be determined by the Committee.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Other:                     .
			
	XX	  	(c)	  	No additional benefits.

  

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 5.4 In-Service or Education Distributions: In-Service and Education Accounts are permitted under the Plan:

  

							
	XX	  	(a)	  	In-Service Accounts are allowed with respect to:
		  		  	XX	  	Participant Deferral Credits only.
		  		  	    	  	Employer Credits only.
		  		  	    	  	Participant Deferral and Employer Credits.
			
		  		  	In-service distributions may be made in the following manner:
		  		  	XX	  	Single lump sum payment.
		  		  	    	  	Annual installments over a term certain not to exceed      years.
			
		  		  	Education Accounts are allowed with respect to:
		  		  	XX	  	Participant Deferral Credits only.
		  		  	    	  	Employer Credits only.
		  		  	    	  	Participant Deferral and Employer Credits.
			
		  		  	Education Accounts distributions may be made in the following manner:
		  		  	XX	  	Single lump sum payment.
		  		  	XX	  	Annual installments over a term certain not to exceed 4 years.
			
		  		  	If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
		  		  	    	  	Forfeited
		  		  	    	  	Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	No In-Service or Education Distributions permitted.

 5.5 Change in Control Event: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Participants may elect upon initial enrollment to have accounts distributed upon a Change in Control Event.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Participants may not elect to have accounts distributed upon a Change in Control Event.

 5.6 Unforeseeable Emergency Event: 
  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Participants may apply to have accounts distributed upon an Unforeseeable Emergency event.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Participants may not apply to have accounts distributed upon a Unforeseeable Emergency event.

  

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 6. Vesting: An Active Participant shall be fully vested in the Employer Credits made to the Deferred Compensation
Account upon the first to occur of the following events: 
  

																
	XX	  	(a)	 	Normal Retirement Age.	 	 	
				
	XX	  	(b)	 	Death.	 	 	
				
	XX	  	(c)	 	Disability.	 	 	
				
	XX	  	(d)	 	Change in Control Event	 	 	
				
	    	  	(e)	 	Other:                     	 	 	
			
	XX	  	(f)	 	Satisfaction of the vesting requirement as specified below:
				
		  	XX	 	Employer Discretionary Credits:	 	 	
						
		  		 	    	  	(i)	 	Immediate 100% vesting.	 	 	
					
		  		 	    	  	(ii)	 	100% vesting after      Years of Service.
						
		  		 	    	  	(iii)	 	100% vesting at age     .	 	 	
						
		  		 	XX	  	(iv)	 			 	
	  	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 Number of Years of Service
	  	Vested
Percentage	 	 	 
		  		 		  		 	Less than	    	1	  	0	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	1	  	20	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	2	  	40	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	3	  	60	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	4	  	80	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	5	  	100	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	6	  	    	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	7	  	    	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	8	  	    	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	9	  	    	%	 	
		  		 		  		 		    	10 or more	  	    	%	 	
			
		  		 	For this purpose, Years of Service of a Participant shall be calculated from the date designated below:
					
		  		 	XX	  	(1)	 	First Day of Service.
					
		  		 	    	  	(2)	 	Effective Date of Plan Participation.
					
		  		 	    	  	(3)	 	Each Crediting Date. Under this option (3), each Employer Credit shall vest based on the Years of Service of a Participant from the Crediting Date on which each Employer
Discretionary Credit is made to his or her Deferred Compensation Account.

  

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		  	    	  	Other Employer Credits:	 	 	
						
		  		  	    	  	(i)	 	Immediate 100% vesting.	 	 	
					
		  		  	    	  	(ii)	 	100% vesting after      Years of Service.
						
		  		  	    	  	(iii)	 	100% vesting at age     .	 	 	
						
		  		  	    	  	(iv)	 			 	
	  	  	 	  	 	  	 	 	 Number of Years of Service
	  	Vested
Percentage	 	 	 
		  		  		  		 	Less than	    	1	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	1	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	2	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	3	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	4	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	5	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	6	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	7	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	8	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	9	  	    	%	 	
		  		  		  		 		    	10 or more	  	    	%	 	
			
		  		  	For this purpose, Years of Service of a Participant shall be calculated from the date designated below:
					
		  		  	    	  	(1)	 	First Day of Service.
					
		  		  	    	  	(2)	 	Effective Date of Plan Participation.
					
		  		  	    	  	(3)	 	Each Crediting Date. Under this option (3), each Employer Credit shall vest based on the Years of Service of a Participant from the Crediting Date on which each Employer
Discretionary Credit is made to his or her Deferred Compensation Account.

  

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 7.1 Payment Options: Any benefit payable under the Plan upon a permitted Qualifying Distribution Event may be made
to the Participant or his Beneficiary (as applicable) in any of the following payment forms, as selected by the Participant in the Participation Agreement: 
  

	 	(a)	Separation from Service prior to Seniority Date, or Separation from Service if Seniority Date is Not Applicable 

  

					
	 XX
	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	    	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed      years.
			
	     
	  	(iii)	  	Other:                     .

  

	 	(b)	Separation from Service on or After Seniority Date, If Applicable 

  

					
	 XX
	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	 XX
	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed 5 years.
			
	     
	  	(iii)	  	Other:                     .

  

	 	(c)	Separation from Service Upon a Change in Control Event 

  

					
	 XX
	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	     
	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed      years.
			
	     
	  	(iii)	  	Other:                     .

  

	 	(d)	Death 

  

					
	 XX
	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	     
	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed      years.
			
	     
	  	(iii)	  	Other:                     .

  

	 	(e)	Disability 

  

					
	 XX
	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	     
	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed      years.
			
	     
	  	(iii)	  	Other:                     .
	
	If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
		
	     
	  	Forfeited
	     
	  	Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time

  

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	 	(f)	Change in Control Event 

  

					
	XX	  	(i)	  	A lump sum.
			
	     
	  	(ii)	  	Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed          years.
			
	    	  	(ii)	  	Other:                     .
			
	     
	  	(iv)	  	Not applicable.
	
	If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
		
	     
	  	Forfeited
	     
	  	Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time
	
	7.4 De Minimis Amounts.
			
	XX	  	 (a)    
	  	Notwithstanding any payment election made by the Participant, the vested balance in the Deferred Compensation Account of the Participant will be distributed in a single lump sum payment at the
time designated under the Plan if at the time of a permitted Qualifying Distribution Event that is either a Separation from Service, death, Disability (if applicable) or Change in Control Event (if applicable) the vested balance does not exceed
$25,000.00. In addition, the Employer may distribute a Participant’s vested balance at any time if the balance does not exceed the limit in Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code and results in the termination of the Participant’s
entire interest in the Plan
			
	     
	  	 (b)    
	  	There shall be pre-determined de minimis amount under the Plan; however, the Employer may distribute a Participant’s vested balance at any time if the balance does not exceed the limit in
Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code and results in the termination of the Participant’s entire interest in the Plan.

 10.1 Contractual Liability: Liability for payments under the Plan shall be the responsibility of the:

  

					
	XX	  	(a)	  	Company.
			
	     
	  	(b)	  	Employer or Participating Employer who employed the Participant when amounts were deferred.

 14. Amendment and Termination of Plan: Notwithstanding any provision in this Adoption Agreement or
the Plan to the contrary, Section          of the Plan shall be amended to read as provided in attached Exhibit
                    . 
  

			
	XX	  	There are no amendments to the Plan.

  

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 17.9 Construction: The provisions of the Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State
of California, except to the extent that such laws are superseded by ERISA and the applicable provisions of the Code. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
this Agreement has been executed as of the day and year stated below. 
  

			
	Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.
	 Name of Employer

		
	By:	 	 /s/ BRIAN OLSON

		 	Authorized Person
	Date: November 1, 2007


  

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