Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.49

                                                                  Execution Copy
                              INVESTMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     THIS INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of July 25, 2001, is
by and between Plug Power, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Plug Power"), and GE
Power Systems Equities Inc., a Delaware corporation ("GEPS Equities").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, GEPS Equities currently owns a total of 5,250,000 shares of the
issued and outstanding common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Plug Power
(the "Common Stock"); and

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto contemplate entering into a transaction
involving, among other things, (i) the restructuring of the Operating Agreement
of GE Fuel Cell Systems, L.L.C. ("GEFCS"); (ii) further amendments to the
Distributor Agreement dated as of February 2, 1999, as amended, between Plug
Power and GEFCS (the "Amended Distributor Agreement") to expand the
distribution scope and rights of GEFCS with respect to Plug Power products;
and, in connection with these changes, (iii) the issuance to GEPS Equities by
Plug Power of certain shares of Common Stock (the "GEFCS Shares");

         WHEREAS, GEPS Equities has agreed to purchase 416,666 shares of Common
Stock at a purchase price of $12.00 per share;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                            SALE OF INVESTMENT SHARES

     SECTION 1.01. Purchase and Sale of Investment Shares. Upon the terms and
                   --------------------------------------
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, GEPS Equities shall purchase from
Plug Power, and Plug Power shall sell to GEPS Equities, at the Investment
Closing (as hereinafter defined), 416,666 shares of Common Stock (such shares
of Common Stock being sold to GEPS Equities hereunder are referred to herein as
the "Investment Shares").

     SECTION 1.02. Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price (the "Purchase
                   --------------
Price") for the Investment Shares is Four Million Nine Hundred Ninety-Nine
Thousand, Nine Hundred Ninety-Two and No/100 Dollars ($4,999,992), representing
a price per Investment Share of $12.00 (the offering price per share as set
forth in Plug Power's final prospectus filed as a part of its Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-62686)). Payment of the Purchase
Price shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available federal funds at
the closing of the transaction contemplated by this Article I (the "Investment
Closing").

                                   ARTICLE II
                            ISSUANCE OF GEFCS SHARES

     SECTION 2.01. Issuance of the GEFCS Shares. Contemporaneous with the
                   ----------------------------
execution and delivery of the Amended Distributor Agreement by the parties
thereto (the "Distributor Agreement Closing"), and upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement, Plug Power shall issue to GEPS Equities,
at the Distributor Agreement Closing, such number of shares of Common Stock as
shall be agreed to in writing at or before the

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Distributor Agreement Closing by the parties hereto (such shares of Common
Stock being issued to GEPS Equities hereunder are referred to herein as the
"GEFCS Shares," and together with the Investment Shares, the "Shares").

                                  ARTICLE III
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PLUG POWER

     Plug Power represents and warrants to GEPS Equities as follows:

     SECTION 3.01. Authority. Plug Power has all requisite corporate power and
                   ---------
authority to enter into this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. All necessary corporate
action has been taken by and on behalf of Plug Power with respect to the
execution, delivery, and performance by Plug Power of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Plug Power, and,
assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of GEPS
Equities, constitutes legal, valid, and binding obligations of Plug Power,
enforceable against Plug Power in accordance with its terms.

     SECTION 3.02. The Shares. The Investment Shares have been duly authorized
                   ----------
and reserved for issuance and, when payment is made therefor in accordance with
this Agreement, shall be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable and will
be free of restrictions on transfers other than restrictions contained in this
Agreement and under applicable state and federal securities laws. The GEFCS
Shares will be duly authorized and reserved for issuance and, upon issuance,
shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessible and will be free of
restrictions on transfers other than restrictions contained in this Agreement
and under applicable state and federal securities laws.

     SECTION 3.03. SEC Filings. Since becoming subject to the periodic
                   -----------
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), Plug Power has made all required filings pursuant to the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder. All such filings and all filings made
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or if such
filings were amended, such amended filings, complied in all material respects
with the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, as applicable, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, as of the date filed (or amended) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Such filings did not and do not
contain any untrue statement or omission of material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Plug Power
understands and acknowledges that GEPS Equities has relied on such filings in
making its investment in the Shares under this Agreement, and agrees that GEPS
Equities has the right to rely on such filings without regard to any other
diligence on or information about Plug Power that GEPS Equities may have.

     SECTION 3.04. Financial Statements. As of their respective dates, the
                   --------------------
financial statements of Plug Power, together with related notes and schedules,
included in all of its filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the
Securities Act complied in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto. Such financial statements and related notes and schedules have been
prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles, consistently applied, during the period involved (except (i) as may
be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or
(ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not
include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present
in all material respects the financial position of Plug Power as of the dates
thereof and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments).

                                   ARTICLE IV
                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF GEPS EQUITIES

     GEPS Equities represents and warrants to Plug Power as follows:

     SECTION 4.01. Accredited Investor. GEPS Equities is an "Accredited
                   -------------------
Investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under
the Securities Act. GEPS Equities has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks
of its investment in Plug

                                      2

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Power and is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Shares
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a complete loss of GEPS
Equities' investment in the Shares.

     SECTION 4.02. Purchase for Investment. GEPS Equities is acquiring or will
                   -----------------------
be acquiring the Shares for investment for its own account, not as a nominee or
agent and not with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any
distribution thereof. GEPS Equities understands that the Shares have not been,
and will not be, registered under the Securities Act by reason of a specific
exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act that depends
upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the
accuracy of GEPS Equities' representations as expressed herein. GEPS Equities
has not been formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Shares.

     SECTION 4.03. Legend. Each certificate or instrument representing the
                   ------
Shares will be endorsed with the following legend:

     THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT") AND UNDER
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
     INVESTMENT AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THE
     DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED
     OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (I) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
     ACT, OR UNDER RELEVANT STATE SECURITIES LAWS, IS IN EFFECT AS TO THESE
     SECURITIES, OR (II) AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM IS AVAILABLE.

     SECTION 4.04. Authority Relative to this Agreement. GEPS Equities has all
                   ------------------------------------
requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
and validly authorized, executed and delivered by GEPS Equities and, assuming
this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Plug Power,
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of GEPS Equities, enforceable
against GEPS Equities in accordance with its terms.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                     CLOSING

     SECTION 5.01. Deliveries at the Investment Closing. At the Investment
                   ------------------------------------
Closing, the following shall be delivered:

          (a)      GEPS Equities will deliver or cause to be delivered to Plug
Power: (i) the Purchase Price referred to in Section 1.02 hereof and (ii) the
First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement by and among Plug Power and
GEPS Equities, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the "First Amendment
                              ---------
to Registration Rights Agreement").

          (b)      Plug Power will deliver or cause to be delivered to GEPS
Equities (i) a stock certificate representing all of the Investment Shares and
(ii) the First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement.

     SECTION 5.02. Deliveries at the Distributor Agreement Closing. At the
                   -----------------------------------------------
Distributor Agreement Closing, the following shall be delivered:

          (a)      GEPS Equities will deliver or cause to be delivered to Plug
Power: (i) the Amended Distributor Agreement and (ii) the Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement of GEFCS (the "Amended LLC Agreement").

          (b)      Plug Power will deliver or cause to be delivered to GEPS
Equities (i) a stock certificate representing all of the GEFCS Shares, (ii) the
Amended Distributor Agreement and (iii) the Amended LLC Agreement.

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     SECTION 5.03. Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
                   -------
conditions set forth herein, the Investment Closing shall take place in the
offices of Plug Power, 968 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, New York 12110 at 10:00
a.m. on July 25, 2001 or at such other date, time and place to which the
parties shall agree in writing, and the Distributor Agreement Closing shall
take place at such date, time and place to which the parties shall agree in
writing. The parties acknowledge and agree that upon mutual exchange and
receipt of signature pages via facsimile, and upon the deliveries set forth in
Section 5.01 and 5.02 hereof, respectively, this Agreement and the transactions
hereby contemplated shall be deemed consummated, notwithstanding either party's
failure or refusal to deliver original (i.e. non-facsimile) signature pages.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 6.01. Brokerage Fees and Commissions Plug Power hereby represents
                   ------------------------------
and warrants to GEPS Equities, and GEPS Equities hereby represents and warrants
to Plug Power, that no person or entity is entitled to receive from Plug Power
or GEPS Equities, respectively, any investment banking, brokerage or finder's
fee or fees for financial consulting or advisory services in connection with
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except for J.P. Morgan
Securities, Inc. (which will receive a placement fee from Plug Power in
connection with the sale of the Investment Shares).

     SECTION 6.02. Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement, along with the
                   ---------------------------
Distributor Agreement, the Amended LLC Agreement and the First Amendment to
Registration Rights Agreement, constitute the entire agreement among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all other
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
or any of them with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may
not be amended except by a written agreement signed on behalf of both of the
parties hereto.

     SECTION 6.03. Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by either
                   ----------
party, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of
the other party; provided, however, that GEPS Equities may assign this
Agreement to an affiliate of GEPS Equities without the consent of Plug Power.

     SECTION 6.04. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
                   --------
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, all of which shall remain in full force
and effect.

     SECTION 6.05. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
                   -------
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered in person, by fax (with a copy delivered the next
business day), by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt
requested), or by any overnight courier or other service providing evidence of
delivery to the respective parties and their counsel at the following addresses:

          (a)      if to Plug Power, to:

                   Plug Power, Inc.
                   968 Albany-Shaker Road
                   Latham, New York 12110
                   Attention: Ana-Maria Galeano
                   Fax: (518) 782-7884

                   with a copy to:

                   Goodwin Procter LLP
                   Exchange Place
                   Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                   Attention: Andrew F. Viles, Esq.

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                   Fax: (617) 523-1231

          (b)      if to GEPS Equities, to:

                   C/o General Electric Company
                   3135 Easton Turnpike
                   Fairfield, Connecticut 06481
                   Attention: Elizabeth K. Lanier
                   Fax: _______________________

                   with a copy to:

                   Long Aldridge & Norman LLP
                   303 Peachtree Street, Suite 5300
                   Atlanta, Georgia 30308
                   Attention: Johnathan H. Short, Esq.
                   Fax: (404) 527-4198

or to such other address (or fax number, if applicable) as the person to whom
notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the
manner set forth above (provided that notice of any change of address or fax
number shall be effective only upon receipt thereof).

     SECTION 6.06. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
                   -------------
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to such state's principles of conflicts of laws.

     SECTION 6.07. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings herein are
                   --------------------
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of
or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

     SECTION 6.08. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon
                   -------------------
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.

     SECTION 6.09. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
                   ------------
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original or a facsimile
or photocopy of an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement.

                            [SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has duly executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.

                                        PLUG POWER, INC.:

                                        By:_________________________
                                        Name:_______________________
                                        Title:______________________

                                        GE POWER SYSTEMS EQUITIES, INC.:

                                        By:_________________________
                                        Name:_______________________
                                        Title:______________________

                                      6

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.50

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE
OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR
AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

                        OPTION TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                                PLUG POWER INC.

     1.   General Provisions. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, on and after the Commencement
          ------------------
Date, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, Holder (as
defined below) is entitled to purchase from Plug Power Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), at any time before 6:00 p.m. New York time on
August 21, 2006 (the "Termination Date"), at a price per share equal to
$15.00 (subject to adjustment as provided herein) (the "Exercise Price"),
725,000 shares of the Company's $.01 par value common stock (subject to
adjustment as provided herein) (the "Option Stock") upon exercise of this
Option pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

     2.   Definitions. As used in this Option, the following terms shall have
          -----------
the definitions ascribed to them below:

          (a)  "Affiliate" means any person or entity which controls, is
controlled by, or which is under common control with another person or entity.

          (b)  "Change of Control" shall mean any of the following with respect
to the Company whether resulting from one transaction of a series of related
transactions: (i) the purchase or other acquisition by any person, entity or
group of persons, within the meaning of Section 13(d) of 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act)
of fifty percent (50%) or more of either the outstanding common stock or the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities
entitled to vote generally; (ii) a reorganization, merger or consolidation of
the Company, in each case, with respect to which persons who were shareholders
of the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than fifty percent (50%)
of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally of the Company or the
surviving or resulting entity (as the case may be); (iii) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (iv) a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company 's assets.

          (c)  "Commencement Date" shall mean August 21, 2001.

          (d)  "Dispose," "Disposing," or "Disposition" means a sale,
assignment, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, grant of a security interest,
or other disposition or encumbrance (including, without limitation, by
operation of law).

<PAGE>

          (e)  "Holder" shall mean GE Power Systems Equities, Inc. or any
permitted assignee hereunder.

          (f)  "Securities" shall mean the $.01 par value common stock of the
Company and any other securities into which or for which any of the securities
described in this paragraph may be converted or exchanged pursuant to a plan of
recapitalization, reorganization, merger, or other like transaction.

     3.   Adjustments and Notices. The Exercise Price and Option Stock shall be
          -----------------------
subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the following
provisions:

          (a)  Subdivision, Stock Dividends or Combinations. In case the
               --------------------------------------------
Company shall at any time split or subdivide the outstanding shares of
Securities or shall issue a stock dividend with respect to the Securities
resulting in the issuance of additional Securities, the number of shares of
Option Stock for which this Option is exercisable immediately prior to such
event shall be proportionally increased and the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to such event shall be proportionately decreased. In case the
Company shall at any time combine the outstanding shares of Securities, the
number of Shares of Option Stock for which this Option is exercisable
immediately prior to such event shall be proportionally decreased and the
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such event shall be
proportionately increased. Such adjustments shall take effect at the close of
business on the date of any such subdivision, dividend or combination, as the
case may be.

          (b)  Reclassification, Exchange, Substitution, In-Kind Distribution.
               --------------------------------------------------------------
Upon any reclassification, exchange, substitution, capital reorganization of
the Company, or other event that results in a change of the number and/or class
of the securities issuable upon exercise of this Option or upon the payment of
a dividend in securities or property other than Securities, the Holder shall be
entitled to receive, upon exercise of this Option, the number and kind of
securities and property that Holder would have received for the Securities if
this Option had been exercised immediately before the record date for such
reclassification, exchange, substitution, or other event or immediately prior
to the record date for such dividend. The Company or its successor shall
promptly issue to Holder a new Option for such new securities or other
property. The new Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly
equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this
Section 3 including, without limitation, adjustments to the Exercise Price and
to the number of securities or property issuable upon exercise of the new
Option. The provisions of this Section 3.b shall similarly apply to successive
reclassifications, exchanges, substitutions, or other events and successive
dividends.

          (c)  Reorganization, Merger etc.
               --------------------------

               (i) If at any time prior to the Termination Date the Company
proposes to merge or consolidate the Company into or with another corporation
where the Company is not the surviving corporation and in which the holders of
Securities would receive consideration other than cash or freely tradeable
registered shares of a publicly traded company, the Company will require, as a
condition to the consummation of such transaction, that the acquiring company
issue to Holder a replacement Option for securities of the acquiring company on
terms as nearly

                                      2

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identical as possible to those under this Option, and in such event the Option
shall terminate upon the issuance of such replacement option.

               (ii) If at any time prior to the Termination Date the Company
proposes to undertake a Change of Control transaction, merge or consolidate the
Company into or with another corporation, sell all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company, engage in a share exchange or tender offer transaction,
or liquidate, dissolve or wind up the Company, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, then the Company shall give the Holder at least twenty (20) days
notice of the proposed effective date of the transaction.

          (d)  No Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment of its
               -------------
Certificate of Incorporation or through a reorganization, transfer of assets,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue, or sale of securities or any other
voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any
of the terms to be observed or performed under this Option by the Company, but
shall at all times in good faith assist in carrying out of all the provisions
of this Section 3 and in taking all such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to protect the Holder's rights under this Section 3 against
impairment.

          (e)  Notice. Upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price and any
               ------
increase or decrease in the number of shares of the Securities purchasable upon
the exercise of this Option, then, and in each such case, the Company, as
promptly as practicable thereafter, shall give written notice thereof to the
Holder of this Option at the address of such Holder as shown on the books of
the Company which notice shall state the Exercise Price as adjusted and the
increased or decreased number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of this
Option, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation of each.

          (f)  Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issuable upon
               -----------------
exercise of the Option and the number of shares to be issued shall be rounded
down to the nearest whole share. If a fractional share interest arises upon any
exercise of the Option, the Company shall eliminate such fractional share
interest by paying the Holder an amount computed by multiplying the fractional
interest by the fair market value of a full share.

     4.   No Shareholder Rights. This Option, by itself, as distinguished from
          ---------------------
any shares of Option Stock purchased hereunder, shall not entitle its Holder to
any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.

     5.   Reservation of Stock; Taxes.
          ---------------------------

          (a) The Company will reserve from its authorized and unissued
Securities a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of Option
Stock upon the exercise of this Option. Issuance of this Option shall
constitute full authority to the Company's officers who are charged with the
duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary
certificates for shares of Option Stock issuable upon the exercise of this
Option.

          (b) The Company covenants that all shares of Option Stock that may
be issued upon the exercise of rights represented by this Option will, upon
exercise, be fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and
charges in respect of the issue (other than taxes in respect of any transfer
occurring contemporaneously with such issue). The Company shall

                                      3

<PAGE>

pay any and all United States federal, state and local taxes and other charges
that may be payable in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of
the certificates representing shares of Option Stock issued hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be responsible for the
payment of any taxes on the income of Holder.

     6.   Exercise of Option. This Option may be exercised in whole or in part
          ------------------
by the Holder, at any time after the Commencement Date, by the surrender of this
Option, together with the Notice of Exercise in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A, duly completed and delivered to the principal office of the Company,
accompanied by payment in full of the Exercise Price in cash or by check with
respect to the shares of Option Stock being purchased. This Option shall be
deemed to have been exercised immediately prior to the close of business on the
date of its surrender for exercise as provided above, and the person entitled
to receive the shares of Option Stock issuable upon such exercise shall be
treated for all purposes as the holder of such shares of record as of the close
of business on such date. As promptly as practicable after such date, the
Company shall issue and deliver to the person or persons entitled to receive
the same a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Option
Stock issuable upon such exercise, together with a replacement Option in the
event this Option is exercised for less than all of the Option Stock.

     7.   Legend. Upon exercise of this Option prior to the registration
          ------
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") of the
Option Stock underlying the Option, all shares of Option Stock shall bear an
appropriate legend noting that such shares are restricted securities.

     8.   Transfer of Option. Neither this Option nor the related Option Stock
          ------------------
may be transferred except (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the 1933 Act, or (ii) pursuant to any available exemption from
registration.

     9.   Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
          ---------------------------------------------
and warrants to the Holder as follows:

          (a)  Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and
               ---------
authority to grant this Option, to perform its obligations hereunder and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. All necessary corporate action
has been taken by and on behalf of the Company with respect to the execution,
delivery, and performance by the Company of this Option and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby. This Option has been duly and validly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming this Option
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Holder, constitutes legal,
valid, and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms.

          (b)  SEC Filings. Since becoming subject to the periodic reporting
               -----------
requirements of the Exchange Act, the Company has made all required filings
pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. All such filings
and all filings made under the 1933 Act or if such filings were amended, such
amended filings, complied in all material respects with the Exchange Act and
the 1933 Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, as of the date filed (or amended) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). Such filings did not and do not contain any untrue
statement or

                                      4

<PAGE>

omission of material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The Company understands and acknowledges that the Holder
has relied on such filings in making its investment in the Option under this
Agreement, and agrees that the Holder has the right to rely on such filings
without regard to any other diligence on or information about the Company that
the Holder may have.

          (c)  Financial Statements. As of their respective dates, the financial
               --------------------
statements of the Company, together with related notes and schedules, included
in all of its filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the 1933 Act
complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and
the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such
financial statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in
accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied, during the period involved (except (i) as may be
otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii)
in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not include
footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof
and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended
(subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit
adjustments).

     10.  Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Option. Upon receipt of evidence
          -------------------------------------------
reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, mutilation or
destruction of this Option, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, upon the
agreement of the Holder to indemnify the Company, or in the case of mutilation,
upon surrender and cancellation of this Option, the Company shall issue a new
Option of like denomination and tenor as the Option so lost, stolen, mutilated
or destroyed. Any such new Option shall constitute an original contractual
obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated
or destroyed Option shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

     11.  Registration Rights. The Option Stock shall be deemed to be "GEFCS
          -------------------
Shares" referred to in, and accordingly defined as "Registrable Securities" for
all purposes of, that certain Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
November 3, 1999, by and among the Company and GE On-Site Power, Inc. (now
known as GE MicroGen, Inc., whose rights and obligations thereunder have been
assigned to and assumed by the Holder), as amended by the First Amendment to
Registration Rights Agreement dated July, 25, 2001, and shall be the subject of
all rights for registration for the resale of the GEFCS Shares described in
that agreement.

     12.  Applicable Law. This Option shall be governed by and construed in
          --------------
accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to
such state's principles of conflicts of laws.

     13.  Successors and Assigns. Subject to the provisions hereof, this Option
          ----------------------
and the rights evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the successors of Company and the successors and assigns of Holder. The
provisions of this Option are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders
from time to time of this Option and shall be enforceable by any such Holder.

                                      5

<PAGE>

     14.  Miscellaneous. The headings in this Option are for purposes of
          -------------
convenience and reference only, and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof. Neither this Option nor any term hereof may be changed or waived
orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the
Holder of this Option. All notices and other communications from the Company to
the Holder of this Option shall be delivered personally or mailed by first
class mail, postage prepaid, to the address furnished to the Company in writing
by the last Holder of this Option who shall have furnished an address to the
Company in writing, and if mailed shall be deemed given three days after
deposit in the United States mail.

     ISSUED: August ____, 2001

                                            PLUG POWER INC.

                                            By:__________________________
                                            Name:________________________
                                            Its:_________________________

                                      6

<PAGE>

                              NOTICE OF EXERCISE

     TO:  PLUG POWER INC.

     1.   The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________________________
shares of the Option Stock of PLUG POWER INC. pursuant to the terms of the
attached Option number _______, and tenders herewith payment of the purchase
price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     2.   Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares
of Option Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is
specified below:

                      ____________________________________
                                     (Name)

                      ____________________________________
                                    (Address)

____________________________                      ______________________________
(Date)                                            (Name of Option Holder)

                                                  By:___________________________

                                                  Title:________________________

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