Nature of Operations	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	1. Nature of Operations *Description of Business* Plug Power Inc., or the Company, is a leading provider of alternative energy technology and is involved in the design, development, commercialization and manufacture of fuel cell systems for the industrial off-road (forklift or material handling) market. We are focused on proton exchange membrane, or PEM, fuel cell and fuel processing technologies and fuel cell/battery hybrid technologies, from which multiple products are available. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat without combustion. Hydrogen is derived from hydrocarbon fuels such as liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, gasoline or biofuels. Hydrogen can also be obtained from the electrolysis of water. Hydrogen can be purchased directly from industrial gas providers or can be produced on-site at consumer locations. We concentrate our efforts on developing, manufacturing and selling our hydrogen-fueled PEM GenDrive^® products on commercial terms for industrial off-road (forklift or material handling) applications, with a focus on multi-shift high volume manufacturing and high throughput distribution sites. We have previously invested in development and sales activities for low-temperature remote-prime power GenSys^® products and our GenCore^® product, which is a hydrogen fueled PEM fuel cell system to provide back-up power for critical infrastructure. While Plug Power will continue to service and support GenSys and/or GenCore products on a limited basis, our main focus is our GenDrive product line. We sell our products worldwide, with a primary focus on North America, through our direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, and their dealer networks. We sell to business, industrial and government consumers. We were organized in the State of Delaware on June 27, 1997 and became a public company listed on the NASDAQ exchange on October 29, 1999. We were originally a joint venture between Edison Development Corporation and Mechanical Technology Incorporated. In 2007, we acquired all the issued and outstanding equity of Cellex Power Products, Inc., or Cellex, and General Hydrogen Corporation, or General Hydrogen. Through these acquisitions, and our continued GenDrive product development efforts, Plug Power became the first fuel cell company to offer a complete suite of products: Class 1 - sit-down counterbalance trucks, Class 2 – stand-up reach trucks and Class 3 – rider pallet trucks. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “Plug Power,” “we,” “our” or “us” as used herein refers to Plug Power Inc. and its subsidiaries. *Liquidity* Our cash requirements relate primarily to working capital needed to operate and grow our business, including funding operating expenses, growth in inventory to support both shipments of new units and servicing the installed base, and continued development and expansion of our products. Our ability to achieve profitability and meet future liquidity needs and capital requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including the timing and quantity of product orders and shipments; the timing and amount of our operating expenses; the timing and costs of working capital needs; the timing and costs of building a sales base; the timing and costs of developing marketing and distribution channels; the timing and costs of product service requirements; the timing and costs of hiring and training product staff; the extent to which our products gain market acceptance; the timing and costs of product development and introductions; the extent of our ongoing and any new research and development programs; and changes in our strategy or our planned activities. If we are unable to fund our operations without additional external financing and therefore cannot sustain future operations, we may be required to delay, reduce and/or cease our operations and/or seek bankruptcy protection. We have experienced and continue to experience negative cash flows from operations and we expect to continue to incur net losses in the foreseeable future. We adopted a restructuring plan on December 11, 2012, aimed at improving organizational efficiency and conserving working capital needed to support the growth of our GenDrive business. As a result of the 2012 overall restructuring, we expect that annual expenses will be reduced by $3.0 to $4.0 million. The Company incurred a net loss $8.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, and net losses of $31.9 million, $27.5 million and $47.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and has an accumulated deficit of $795.2 million at March 31, 2013. Substantially all of our accumulated deficit has resulted from costs incurred in connection with our operating expenses, research and development expenses and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect that for fiscal year 2013, our operating cash burn will be approximately $10-$15 million. Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was $5.9 million. Additionally, on March 31, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4.5 million and net working capital of $7.9 million. This compares to $9.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012. We were party to a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, which expired as of March 29, 2013. The SVB loan facility provided up to $15 million of availability, subject to borrowing base limitations, to support working capital needs. Given its expiration, we no longer have access to this facility. As of December 31, 2012, $3.4 million was outstanding under the loan agreement. This amount was subsequently paid in full in January, 2013. The Company maintains all of its operating bank accounts with SVB and will continue to assess opportunities to reestablish a credit facility with SVB. To date, we have funded our operations primarily through public and private offerings of common and preferred stock, our line of credit and maturities and sales of our available-for-sale securities. The Company believes it has potential financing sources in order to raise the funds necessary to support operations through fiscal year end 2013. The Company’s current sources of capital, and other funds, include the raising of $2.3 million (net of issuance costs) in a public equity offering completed in February, 2013, $435,000 received from the exercise of warrants in February 2013, $2.6 million received from a sale-leaseback transaction of its real estate in Latham, NY completed on March 27, 2013, and a $6.5 million strategic investment from Air Liquide (Air Liquide Investment) completed on May 8, 2013. The Air Liquide Investment includes the purchase of preferred stock, an increase in Air Liquide's ownership interest in the HyPulsion joint venture, and an engineering services contract. We believe that our current cash, (including the aforementioned sources of funds received after March 31, 2013), and cash generated from future sales will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our operations into October 2013. This projection is based on our current expectations regarding product sales, cost structure, cash burn rate and operating assumptions. In addition to the aforementioned current sources of capital, and other funds that will provide additional short term liquidity, the Company is currently exploring various other alternatives including debt and equity financing vehicles, strategic partnerships, government programs that may be available to the Company, as well as trying to generate additional revenue and increase margins. However, at this time the Company has no commitments to obtain any additional funds, and there can be no assurance such funds will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain additional funding and improve its operations, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected and the Company may not be able to continue operations. Additionally, even if we raise sufficient capital through additional equity or debt financing, strategic alternatives or otherwise, there can be no assurances that the revenue or capital infusion will be sufficient to enable us to develop our business to a level where it will be profitable or generate positive cash flow. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders could be significantly diluted, and these newly issued securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. If we incur additional debt, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, thus limiting funds available for our business activities. The terms of any debt securities issued could also impose significant restrictions on our operations. Broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance, and may adversely impact our ability to raise additional funds. Similarly, if our common stock is delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market, it may limit our ability to raise additional funds. If we raise additional funds through collaborations and/or licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights to our technologies, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 were prepared on the basis of a going concern which contemplates that the Company will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly, they do not give effect to adjustments that would be necessary should the Company be required to liquidate its assets. The ability of the Company to meet its total liabilities of $29.4 million at March 31, 2013, and to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the availability of future funding, continued growth in orders and shipments, and the Company’s ability to profitably meet its after-sale service commitments with its existing customers. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.

Plug Power Inc., or the Company, is a leading provider of alternative energy technology and is involved in the design, development, commercialization and manufacture of fuel cell systems for the industrial off-road (forklift or material handling) market.

We are focused on proton exchange membrane, or PEM, fuel cell and fuel processing technologies and fuel cell/battery hybrid technologies, from which multiple products are available. A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and heat without combustion. Hydrogen is derived from hydrocarbon fuels such as liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, gasoline or biofuels. Hydrogen can also be obtained from the electrolysis of water. Hydrogen can be purchased directly from industrial gas providers or can be produced on-site at consumer locations.

We concentrate our efforts on developing, manufacturing and selling our hydrogen-fueled PEM GenDrive^® products on commercial terms for industrial off-road (forklift or material handling) applications, with a focus on multi-shift high volume manufacturing and high throughput distribution sites.

We have previously invested in development and sales activities for low-temperature remote-prime power GenSys^® products and our GenCore^® product, which is a hydrogen fueled PEM fuel cell system to provide back-up power for critical infrastructure. While Plug Power will continue to service and support GenSys and/or GenCore products on a limited basis, our main focus is our GenDrive product line.

We sell our products worldwide, with a primary focus on North America, through our direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, and their dealer networks. We sell to business, industrial and government consumers.

We were organized in the State of Delaware on June 27, 1997 and became a public company listed on the NASDAQ exchange on October 29, 1999. We were originally a joint venture between Edison Development Corporation and Mechanical Technology Incorporated. In 2007, we acquired all the issued and outstanding equity of Cellex Power Products, Inc., or Cellex, and General Hydrogen Corporation, or General Hydrogen.

Through these acquisitions, and our continued GenDrive product development efforts, Plug Power became the first fuel cell company to offer a complete suite of products: Class 1 - sit-down counterbalance trucks, Class 2 – stand-up reach trucks and Class 3 – rider pallet trucks.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “Plug Power,” “we,” “our” or “us” as used herein refers to Plug Power Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Our cash requirements relate primarily to working capital needed to operate and grow our business, including funding operating expenses, growth in inventory to support both shipments of new units and servicing the installed base, and continued development and expansion of our products. Our ability to achieve profitability and meet future liquidity needs and capital requirements will depend upon numerous factors, including the timing and quantity of product orders and shipments; the timing and amount of our operating expenses; the timing and costs of working capital needs; the timing and costs of building a sales base; the timing and costs of developing marketing and distribution channels; the timing and costs of product service requirements; the timing and costs of hiring and training product staff; the extent to which our products gain market acceptance; the timing and costs of product development and introductions; the extent of our ongoing and any new research and development programs; and changes in our strategy or our planned activities. If we are unable to fund our operations without additional external financing and therefore cannot sustain future operations, we may be required to delay, reduce and/or cease our operations and/or seek bankruptcy protection.

We have experienced and continue to experience negative cash flows from operations and we expect to continue to incur net losses in the foreseeable future. We adopted a restructuring plan on December 11, 2012, aimed at improving organizational efficiency and conserving working capital needed to support the growth of our GenDrive business. As a result of the 2012 overall restructuring, we expect that annual expenses will be reduced by $3.0 to $4.0 million.

The Company incurred a net loss $8.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, and net losses of $31.9 million, $27.5 million and $47.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and has an accumulated deficit of $795.2 million at March 31, 2013. Substantially all of our accumulated deficit has resulted from costs incurred in connection with our operating expenses, research and development expenses and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect that for fiscal year 2013, our operating cash burn will be approximately $10-$15 million.

Net cash used in operating activities for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 was $5.9 million. Additionally, on March 31, 2013, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4.5 million and net working capital of $7.9 million. This compares to $9.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively, at December 31, 2012.

We were party to a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank, or SVB, which expired as of March 29, 2013. The SVB loan facility provided up to $15 million of availability, subject to borrowing base limitations, to support working capital needs. Given its expiration, we no longer have access to this facility. As of December 31, 2012, $3.4 million was outstanding under the loan agreement. This amount was subsequently paid in full in January, 2013. The Company maintains all of its operating bank accounts with SVB and will continue to assess opportunities to reestablish a credit facility with SVB.

To date, we have funded our operations primarily through public and private offerings of common and preferred stock, our line of credit and maturities and sales of our available-for-sale securities. The Company believes it has potential financing sources in order to raise the funds necessary to support operations through fiscal year end 2013. The Company’s current sources of capital, and other funds, include the raising of $2.3 million (net of issuance costs) in a public equity offering completed in February, 2013, $435,000 received from the exercise of warrants in February 2013, $2.6 million received from a sale-leaseback transaction of its real estate in Latham, NY completed on March 27, 2013, and a $6.5 million strategic investment from Air Liquide (Air Liquide Investment) completed on May 8, 2013. The Air Liquide Investment includes the purchase of preferred stock, an increase in Air Liquide's ownership interest in the HyPulsion joint venture, and an engineering services contract. We believe that our current cash, (including the aforementioned sources of funds received after March 31, 2013), and cash generated from future sales will provide sufficient liquidity to fund our operations into October 2013. This projection is based on our current expectations regarding product sales, cost structure, cash burn rate and operating assumptions.

In addition to the aforementioned current sources of capital, and other funds that will provide additional short term liquidity, the Company is currently exploring various other alternatives including debt and equity financing vehicles, strategic partnerships, government programs that may be available to the Company, as well as trying to generate additional revenue and increase margins. However, at this time the Company has no commitments to obtain any additional funds, and there can be no assurance such funds will be available on acceptable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain additional funding and improve its operations, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected and the Company may not be able to continue operations.

Additionally, even if we raise sufficient capital through additional equity or debt financing, strategic alternatives or otherwise, there can be no assurances that the revenue or capital infusion will be sufficient to enable us to develop our business to a level where it will be profitable or generate positive cash flow. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders could be significantly diluted, and these newly issued securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. If we incur additional debt, a substantial portion of our operating cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on such indebtedness, thus limiting funds available for our business activities. The terms of any debt securities issued could also impose significant restrictions on our operations. Broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance, and may adversely impact our ability to raise additional funds. Similarly, if our common stock is delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market, it may limit our ability to raise additional funds. If we raise additional funds through collaborations and/or licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights to our technologies, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

The condensed consolidated financial statements for the three month period ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012 were prepared on the basis of a going concern which contemplates that the Company will be able to realize assets and discharge liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly, they do not give effect to adjustments that would be necessary should the Company be required to liquidate its assets. The ability of the Company to meet its total liabilities of $29.4 million at March 31, 2013, and to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the availability of future funding, continued growth in orders and shipments, and the Company’s ability to profitably meet its after-sale service commitments with its existing customers. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.