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/X/ Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006

or

/ / Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-6890

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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1. Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management of Mechanical Technology Incorporated (the "Company"), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and contain all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of results for such periods. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

The information presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 has been derived from the Company's December 31, 2005 audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All other information has been derived from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods as of and ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

Liquidity

The Company has incurred significant losses as it continues to fund MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. ("MTI Micro") Direct Methanol Fuel Cell ("DMFC") product development and commercialization programs. The Company expects that losses will continue and fluctuate from year to year and that such fluctuations may be substantial as a result of, among other factors, sales of securities available for sale, the operating results of MTI Instruments and MTI Micro, and the availability, or lack thereof, of equity financing including the additional investment rights issued in connection with the 2004 private placement and the ability to attract government funding resources to fund research and development costs. The Company expects to continue to incur losses as it seeks to develop and commercialize Mobion^® fuel cell systems and it expects to continue funding its operations from current cash and cash equivalents, the sales of securities available for sale, proceeds, if any, from the exercise of additional investment rights issued in connection with the 2004 private placement or other equity financings and government program funding. The Company may also seek to provide additional resources through an equity offering. Additional government revenues and Fletcher's potential exercise of additional investment rights totaling up to an additional $20 million could also provide additional resources, although with an exercise price of $6.023 per share it is unlikely that Fletcher will exercise its right unless our stock price increases. The Company anticipates that it will have to raise additional equity capital to fund its long-term business plan, regardless of whether Fletcher exercises any or all of its additional investment rights.

Pursuant to additional investment rights, Fletcher has the right, but not the obligation, to purchase, in a single purchase or multiple purchases, up to an additional $20 million of our common stock at any time prior to December 31, 2006 at a price per share equal to $6.023 (as adjusted from $6.34), which date and price may be extended and adjusted, respectively, in certain circumstances.

During the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company sold 303,500 shares of Plug Power common stock with proceeds totaling $1.805 million and gains totaling $1.266 million. These proceeds reflect the Company's previously announced strategy to raise additional capital through the sale of Plug Power stock in order to fund its micro fuel cell operations.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Changes in significant accounting policies since December 31, 2005 are as follows:

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The Company reports net (loss) income per basic and diluted common share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share, which establishes standards for computing and presenting (loss) income per share. Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted (loss) income per share reflects the potential dilution, if any, computed by dividing net income by the combination of dilutive common share equivalents, comprised of shares issuable under outstanding investment rights, warrants and the Company's share-based compensation plans, and the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the reporting period. Dilutive common share equivalents include the dilutive effect of in-the-money shares, which are calculated based on the average share price for each period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the exercise price of a share, the amount of compensation cost, if any, for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of windfall benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital, if any, when the share is exercised are assumed to be used to repurchase shares in the current period.

The Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans and its majority-owned subsidiary, MTI Micro, has one stock-based employee compensation plan, which are described more fully in Note 13, Stock Based Compensation, of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005.

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (FAS 123R), "Share-Based Payment," which establishes accounting for share-based awards exchanged for employee services and requires companies to expense the estimated fair value of these awards over the requisite employee service period. On April 14, 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission adopted a new rule amending the effective dates for FAS 123R. In accordance with the new rule, the accounting provisions of FAS 123R are effective for the Company and have been adopted by the Company as of January 1, 2006.

Under FAS 123R, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee's requisite service period. The Company has awards with performance conditions and has no awards with market conditions. The Company adopted the provisions of FAS 123R on January 1, 2006, the first day of the Company's fiscal year, using a modified prospective application, which provides for certain changes to the method for valuing share-based compensation. Under the modified prospective application, prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes. The valuation provisions of FAS 123R apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified or cancelled. Estimated compensation expense for awards outstanding at the effective date will be recognized over the remaining service period using the compensation cost calculated for pro forma disclosure purposes under FASB Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (FAS 123).

On November 10, 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 123(R)-3, "Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards." The Company has elected to adopt the alternative transition method provided in this FASB Staff Position for calculating the tax effects of share-based compensation pursuant to FAS 123R. The alternative transition method includes a simplified method to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (APIC pool) related to the tax effects of employee share-based compensation, which is available to absorb tax deficiencies recognized subsequent to the adoption of FAS 123R.

Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, the Company accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations as permitted under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, (FAS 123). Under the intrinsic value method, stock-based compensation was recognized primarily due to changes in option terms because the exercise price of the Company's and MTI Micro's common stock options granted to employees and directors usually equaled the fair market value of the underlying stock at the date of grant.

Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees. The Company measures stock-based compensation cost at grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognizes the cost as expense on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the employee requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The expense is recorded in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" and "Unfunded research and product development expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on the employees' respective functions.

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The Company records deferred tax assets for awards that result in deductions on the Company's income tax returns unless the Company cannot recognize the deduction (i.e. in a net operating loss ("NOL") position), based on the amount of compensation cost recognized and the Company's statutory tax rate. Differences between the deferred tax assets recognized for financial reporting purposes and the actual tax deduction reported on the Company's income tax return are recorded in Additional Paid-In Capital (if the tax deduction exceeds the deferred tax asset) or in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings (if the deferred tax asset exceeds the tax deduction and no additional paid-in capital exists from previous awards). No benefit has been recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2006 as the Company is in a NOL position.

The Company continues to record the fair market value of stock options and warrants granted to non-employees in exchange for services in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue No. 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Certain 2005 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2006 presentation. The reclassifications have no effect on total revenues, total expenses, net loss or shareholders' equity as previously reported.

The reclassifications impact our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income in the following ways:

• Paid-In Capital MTI MicroFuel Cell investment now only includes the minority accounting impact for share-based compensation charges related to MTI Micro.
• Paid-In Capital Share-based compensation now includes the total share-based compensation charges related to MTI Micro, previously included in Paid-In Capital MTI MicroFuel Cell investment.

3. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Receivables consist of the following at:

The balances billed but not paid by customers pursuant to retainage provisions in contracts are due upon completion of the contracts and acceptance by the customer. Based on the Company's experience, most retainage amounts are expected to be collected within the ensuing year.

4. Inventories

Inventories, net consist of the following at:

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5. Securities Available for Sale

Securities available for sale are classified as current assets and accumulated net unrealized gains (losses) are charged to other comprehensive income (loss).

The principal components of the Company's securities available for sale consist of the following at:

(Dollars in thousands, except stock price and share data)

Accumulated unrealized gains related to securities available for sale are as follows:

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6. Income Taxes

The Company's effective income tax (expense) benefit rate from operations differed from the Federal statutory rate as follows:

Income tax (expense) benefit consists of the following:

The valuation allowance at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 was $12.798 million and $10.923 million, respectively and represents a full valuation allowance. The valuation allowance reflects the estimate that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets in excess of deferred tax liabilities may not be realized.

7. Shareholders' Equity

Changes in common shares issued are as follows:

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Changes in treasury stock shares are as follows:

The Company has reserved common shares for future issuance as of March 31, 2006 as follows:

8. Loss per Share

The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for continuing operations for the three months ended March 31:

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During 2006, options to purchase 5,363,371 shares of the Company's common stock at prices ranging from $0.54 to $20.92 per share, additional investment rights to purchase approximately 3,320,604 shares ($20,000,000 divided by $6.023 per share) of common stock with an exercise price of $6.023 per share and options to purchase 68,002 shares of MTI Micro common stock at prices from $2.39 to $4.66 per share were outstanding but were not included in the computation of earnings per share-assuming dilution because the Company incurred a loss from continuing operations during this period and inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Investment rights issued to Fletcher expire on December 31, 2006, subject to extension in certain instances.

During 2005, options to purchase 3,754,250 shares of the Company's common stock at prices ranging from $0.54 to $20.92 per share, additional investment rights to purchase approximately 3,320,604 shares ($20,000,000 divided by $6.023 per share) of common stock with an exercise price of $6.023 per share, warrants to purchase 28,377 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $10.572 per share and options to purchase 2,867,818 shares of MTI Micro common stock at prices from $2.39 to $4.66 per share were outstanding but were not included in the computation of earnings per share-assuming dilution because the Company incurred a loss from continuing operations during this period and inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Warrants for the purchase of 28,377 shares expired unexercised on February 5, 2006. Investment rights issued to Fletcher expire on December 31, 2006, subject to extension in certain instances.

9. Gain on Sale of Securities Available for Sale

The Company sold shares of the following securities and recognized gains and proceeds as follows:

11. Segment Information

The Company operates in two business segments, New Energy and Test and Measurement Instrumentation. The New Energy segment is focused on commercializing direct methanol fuel cells ("DMFCs"). The Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment designs, manufactures, markets and services computer-based balancing systems for aircraft engines, high performance test and measurement instruments and systems, and wafer characterization tools for the semiconductor industry. The Company's principal operations are located in North America.

The accounting policies of the New Energy and Test and Measurement Instrumentation segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See Note 1). The Company evaluates performance based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes, accounting changes, items management does not deem relevant to segment performance, and interest income and expense. Inter-segment sales are not significant.

Summarized financial information concerning the Company's reportable segments is shown in the following table. The "Other" column includes corporate related items and items such as income taxes or unusual items, which are not allocated to reportable segments. The "Reconciling Items" column includes minority interests in a consolidated subsidiary. In addition,

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segments' noncash items include any depreciation and amortization in reported profit or loss. The New Energy segment figures include the Company's micro fuel cell operations, equity securities of Plug Power, gains on the sale of these securities and (losses) gains related to the embedded derivative for the purchase of Plug Power common stock.

The following table presents the details of "Other" segment profit:

12. Related Party Transactions

The Company purchases materials from E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company ("DuPont"), a shareholder in MTI Micro. Such purchases totaled $0 and $43 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company has a liability to DuPont for materials purchases totaling $0 and $9 thousand, respectively as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. These liabilities are included in the financial statement line "Accrued liabilities - related parties."

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13. Effect of Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 156, "Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140," that provides guidance on accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 156, separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities must be initially measured at fair value, if practicable. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Company may use either the amortization method or the fair value measurement method to account for servicing assets and servicing liabilities within the scope of this Statement. An entity should adopt the Statement as of the beginning of its first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 156 in fiscal year 2007. The adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, "Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments-an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140," to permit fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This Statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 155 in fiscal year 2007. The adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In April 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) FIN 46(R)-6, "Determining the Variability to Be Considered in Applying FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)", that will become effective beginning third quarter of 2006. FSP FIN No. 46(R)-6 clarifies that the variability to be considered in applying Interpretation 46(R) shall be based on an analysis of the design of the variable interest entity. The adoption of this FSP is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In the first quarter of 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 154, "Accounting Changes and Error Corrections-a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3." SFAS No. 154 changed the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a voluntary change in accounting principle. The adoption of this Statement did not affect the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in the period of adoption. Its effects on future periods will depend on the nature and significance of any future accounting changes subject to this statement.

Beginning January 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs-an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4." SFAS No. 151 requires certain abnormal expenditures to be recognized as expenses in the current period versus being capitalized in inventory. It also requires that the amount of fixed production overhead allocated to inventory be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Beginning January 2006, the Company adopted SFAS Interpretation No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, which is an interpretation of SFAS Statement No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations. The interpretation requires a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation be recognized if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. The adoption of this statement did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Beginning January 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 153, Exchanges of Non-monetary Assets, an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29. SFAS No. 153 which addresses the measurement of exchanges of non-monetary assets and redefines the scope of transactions that should be measured based on the fair value of the assets exchanged. The adoption of this statement did not affect the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in the period of adoption. Its effects on future periods will depend on the nature and significance of any future transactions subject to this statement.

14. Commitments and Contingencies

Lawrence

On September 9, 1998, Barbara Lawrence, the Lawrence Group, Inc. ("Lawrence"), and certain other Lawrence-related entities ("Plaintiffs") initially filed suit in the Bankruptcy Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York which were subsequently consolidated in the District Court, against First Albany Corporation ("FAC"), Mechanical Technology Incorporated, Dale Church, Edward Dohring and Beno Sternlicht, Alan Goldberg and George McNamee (three former Directors of the Company), Marty Mastroianni (former President and Chief Operating Officer of the

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Company), and 33 other individuals ("Defendants") who purchased a total of 820,909 (2,462,727 shares post split) shares of the Company's common stock from the Plaintiffs. The case concerns the Defendants' 1997 purchase of Mechanical Technology Incorporated shares from the Plaintiffs at the price of $2.25 per share ($0.75 per share post split). FAC acted as Placement Agent for the Defendants in the negotiation and sale of the shares and in proceedings before the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York, which approved the sale in September 1997.

Plaintiffs claim that the Defendants failed to disclose material inside information concerning Plug Power, LLC to the Plaintiffs and therefore the $2.25 per share ($0.75 per share post split) purchase price was unfair. Plaintiffs are seeking damages of $5 million plus punitive damages and costs. In April 1999, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which was denied by the Bankruptcy Court. On appeal in October 2000, Plaintiffs' cause of action was dismissed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. In November 2000, Plaintiffs filed an appeal of that dismissal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In June 2002, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Court decision and remanded the case for further consideration of the Plaintiff's claims as motions to modify the Bankruptcy Court sale order. The Plaintiff's claims have now been referred back to Bankruptcy Court for such consideration. In September 2003, the Bankruptcy Court issued an order permitting Plaintiffs to conduct limited discovery concerning how First Albany formed an opinion about the Company's stock up until the date the Stock Purchase Agreement was executed. Discovery has commenced.

The Company believes the claims have no merit and intends to defend them vigorously. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the claims nor reasonably estimate a range of possible loss given the current status of the litigation. Accordingly, no amounts have been reserved for this matter.

The Company and its subsidiaries lease certain manufacturing, laboratory and office facilities. The leases generally provide for the Company to pay either an increase over a base year level for taxes, maintenance, insurance and other costs of the leased properties or the Company's allocated share of insurance, taxes, maintenance and other costs of leased properties. The leases contain renewal provisions.

Future minimum rental payments required under non-cancelable operating leases are (dollars in thousands): $244 remaining in 2006; $322 in 2007, $319 in 2008, $289 in 2009, and $0 in 2010.

Below is a reconciliation of changes in product warranty liabilities as follows:

The Company licenses, on a non-exclusive basis, certain DMFC technology from Los Alamos National Laboratory ("LANL"). Under this agreement, the Company is required to pay future minimum annual license fees of $250 thousand yearly through 2019.

Effective, July 6, 2005, MTI Micro entered into an exclusive field-of-use patent license agreement with LANL. Under this agreement, MTI Micro paid a non-refundable License Issue Fee of $30 thousand upon execution of such agreement.

Under both LANL licenses, license payments made in any year can be applied against royalties due and total annual fees in any year shall not exceed $1 million. Also under both LANL licenses, once products are being sold, royalties will be based on 2% of the first $50 million of net sales, 1% on net sales in excess of $50 million but less than $100 million and .5% on net sales in excess of $100 million Any royalties due shall not exceed 2% of net sales.

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Under the NYSERDA contract, MTI Micro agreed to pay NYSERDA a royalty of 1.5% of the sales price of any product sold incorporating IP developed pursuant to the NYSERDA contract if the product is manufactured by a New York State manufacturer. This royalty increases to 5% if the manufacturer is not deemed to be a New York State manufacturer. In any event, the royalty is subject to a cap equal to two times the total contract funds paid by NYSERDA to MTI Micro as reduced to reflect any New York State jobs created by MTI Micro.

The Company has employment agreements with certain employees that provide severance payments, certain other payments, accelerated vesting and exercise extension periods of certain options upon termination of employment under certain circumstances, as defined in the applicable agreements. As of March 31, 2006, the Company's potential minimum obligation to these employees was approximately $.784 million.

During 2004, MTI Micro entered into a fixed price-cost type completion contract with the U.S. Army. The contract, which totaled $250 thousand, permitted monthly cost progress payments and called for the delivery of five DMFC power system units. These prototypes required substantial engineering to meet the performance requirements of the customer and at March 31, 2005, MTI Micro had accrued $540 thousand for the then anticipated cost needed to complete the contract. The contract was completed on November 25, 2005. Additionally, other contracts had forecasted costs in excess of contract values as of March 31, 2005. As of March 31, 2005, MTI Micro had accrued $17 thousand for the anticipated cost overruns for the projects. As of March 31, 2006, no amounts are accrued for anticipated losses to complete open contracts.

15. Subsequent Events

From April 1 through May 9, 2006, the Company sold available for sale securities as follows:

16. Stock Based Compensation

A majority of stock-based compensation expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 was generated from stock options. Stock options are awards which allow the employee to purchase shares of the Company's common stock at a fixed price. Stock options issued to employees generally vest 25% per year beginning one year after grant. Options issued to members of the MTI Board generally vest upon grant and MTI Micro options issued to members of the MTI Micro Board generally vest 50% per year beginning one year after grant. Certain options granted may be exercisable immediately or begin vesting immediately. Restricted stock awards generally vest one year after the date of grant. Option exercise prices are generally equal to but are not less than 85 percent of the market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant, or for MTI Micro options based on fair values as determined by the MTI Micro Board. Unexercised options generally terminate ten years after date of grant.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company had elected to follow APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations, in accounting for employee stock-based compensation and to provide the disclosures required under SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation. APB Opinion No. 25 requires no recognition of compensation expense for most of the stock-based compensation arrangements provided by the Company, namely, broad-based employee option grants

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where the exercise price is equal to or not less than 85 percent of the market value at the date of grant. However, APB Opinion No. 25 requires recognition of compensation expense for variable award plans over the vesting periods of such plans, based upon the then-current market values of the underlying stock. In contrast, SFAS No. 123 requires recognition of compensation expense for grants of stock, stock options, and other equity instruments, over the vesting periods of such grants, based on the estimated grant-date fair values of those grants. Under the intrinsic-value-based method, compensation cost is the excess, if any, of the market value of the stock at grant over the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.

Compensation expense related to the intrinsic value of performance-based, unrestricted and restricted stock awards was recorded in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the following periods:

Share-Based Compensation Information under FAS 123R

As discussed in Note 2, "Significant Accounting Policies" effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions for stock-based awards granted to employees using the modified prospective application method provided by FAS 123R. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the employee requisite service period.

The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes valuation model, consistent with the provisions of FAS 123R and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 ("SAB 107"). Key inputs and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options include the grant price of the award, the expected option term, volatility of the Company's stock, the risk-free rate and the Company's dividend yield. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value ultimately realized by employees who receive equity awards, and subsequent events are not indicative of the reasonableness of the original estimates of fair value made by the Company.

The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used for options granted:

The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates appropriate for the term of the Company's employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company's history and expectation of future dividend payouts and may be subject to substantial change in the future. The forfeiture rate is based on the Company's historical option cancellation information.

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As share-based compensation expense recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it should be reduced for estimated forfeitures. FAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Pre-vesting forfeitures were estimated to be approximately 9.5% (annualized) in the first quarter of fiscal 2006 based on historical experience. In the Company's pro forma information required under FAS 123 for the periods prior to fiscal 2006, the Company accounted for forfeitures as they occurred. The cumulative effect for the change in forfeitures was immaterial to be presented separately.

Total share-based compensation expense, related to all of the Company's share-based awards, recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was comprised as follows (in thousands):

Total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested awards as of March 31, 2006 is $2.314 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.25 years.

The Company recorded $55 thousand in share-based compensation expense during the three months ended March 31, 2006 related to share-based awards granted during fiscal 2006. In addition, as of January 1, 2006, the adoption of FAS 123R resulted in the elimination of unearned compensation related to restricted stock (contra equity account) against additional paid in capital totaling approximately $80 thousand.

Presented below is a summary of the Company's stock option plans' activity for the three months ended March 31, 2006:

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The aggregate intrinsic value for the Company's options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2006 is $4.426 million and $3.708 million, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company's closing stock price of $3.75 as of March 31, 2006, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.

The number and weighted average fair value of restricted stock for the period ended March 31, 2006 is as follows:

Presented below is a summary of the 2001 MTI Micro stock option plans activity for the three months ended March 31 2006:

The following table summarizes information for MTI Micro's options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2006:

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The aggregate intrinsic value for MTI Micro options outstanding and exercisable as of March 31, 2006 is $1 thousand and $0, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on MTI Micro's estimated fair value of $2.50 as of March 31, 2006, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $380 thousand. The total cash received or receivable from employees as a result of employee stock option exercises for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was approximately $266 thousand. In connection with these exercises, the tax benefits realized by the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was zero.

The Company settles employee stock option exercises with newly issued shares of Company common stock.

Pro Forma Information under FAS 123 for Periods Prior to Fiscal 2006

Prior to adopting the provisions of FAS 123R, the Company recorded estimated compensation expense for employee stock options based upon their intrinsic value on the date of grant pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25 (APB 25), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and provided the required pro forma disclosures of FAS 123. Because the Company generally established the exercise price based on the fair market value of the Company's stock at the date of grant, the stock options generally had no intrinsic value upon grant, and therefore estimated expense was recorded primarily for grant modifications prior to adopting FAS 123R. Each accounting period, the Company reported the potential dilutive impact of stock options in its diluted earnings per common share using the treasury-stock method. Out-of-the-money stock options (i.e., the average stock price during the period was below the strike price of the stock option) were not included in diluted earnings per common share as their effect was anti-dilutive.

For purposes of pro forma disclosures under FAS 123 for the three months ended March 31, 2005, the estimated fair value of the stock options was assumed to be amortized to expense over the stock options' vesting periods. The pro forma effects of recognizing estimated compensation expense under the fair value method on net income and earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were as follows:

The pro forma effects of estimated share-based compensation expense on net income and earnings per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 were estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model based on the following assumptions (annualized percentages):

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The Black-Scholes weighted average estimated fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $3.226 per share.

17. Issuance of Stock by Subsidiary

MTI Micro was formed on March 26, 2001 and as of March 31, 2006, the Company owns approximately 91% of MTI Micro's outstanding common stock.

On March 31, 2006, MTI Micro issued 1,400,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $2.50 per share to the Company in connection with the conversion of its $3.5 million loan receivable to equity.

The decrease in the Company's paid-in-capital of $(358) thousand in 2006 represents the changes in the Company's equity investment in MTI Micro, which resulted from the anti-dilutive impact of the Company's investments in MTI Micro stock and the equity impact of share-based compensation accounting.

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This information should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 contained in our 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In addition to historical information, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ substantially from those referred to herein due to a number of factors, including but not limited to risks described in the section entitled Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

Mechanical Technology Incorporated, ("MTI" or the "Company"), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. MTI operates in two segments, the New Energy segment which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. ("MTI Micro"), a majority-owned subsidiary, and the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. ("MTI Instruments"), a wholly owned subsidiary.

At its MTI Micro subsidiary, the Company is primarily focused on the development and commercialization of advanced cord-free rechargeable power pack technology for portable electronics. MTI Micro has developed a patented, proprietary direct methanol fuel cell ("DMFC") technology called Mobion^®, which generates electrical power using up to 100% methanol as fuel. MTI Micro's Mobion^® technology is intended to replace current Lithium-Ion and similar rechargeable battery systems used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in many hand held electronic devices such as PDAs, Smartphones and different accessories. The Company believes that if commercialized, Mobion^® could eventually have higher energy density and therefore provide multiple times the benefits of existing Lithium-Ion batteries. When and if Mobion^® fuel cells are ready to be sold in mass-commercial markets, they should be able to power a wireless electronic device for longer periods of time than Lithium Ion batteries without recharging/refueling, and be instantly refueled without the need for a power outlet or a lengthy recharge.

At its MTI Instruments subsidiary, the Company designs, manufactures, and sells high-performance test and measurement instruments and systems. MTI Instruments was incorporated as a subsidiary on March 8, 2000 and operates three product groups: general dimensional gaging, semiconductor and aviation. These products consist of electronic, computerized gaging instruments for position, displacement and vibration applications within the design, manufacturing and test markets; semiconductor products for wafer characterization of semi-insulating and semi-conducting wafers within the semiconductor market; and engine balancing and vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft.

MTI also co-founded and retains a minority interest in Plug Power Inc. ("Plug Power") (Nasdaq: PLUG), a developer of clean, reliable, on-site energy products.

Our cash requirements depend on numerous factors, including completion of our product development activities, ability to commercialize our systems, market acceptance of our systems and other factors. We expect to pursue the expansion of our operations through internal growth and strategic partnerships.

Several key indicators of our liquidity are summarized in the following table:

From inception through March 31, 2006, the Company has incurred net losses of $85.149 million and expects to incur losses as it continues micro fuel cell product development and commercialization programs. The Company expects that losses will continue and fluctuate from year to year and that such fluctuations may be substantial as a result of, among other factors, sales of securities available for sale and the operating results of MTI Instruments and MTI Micro.

The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in

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the United States of America. Note 1 to the Company's 2005 annual consolidated financial statements includes a summary of the Company's most significant accounting policies. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventories, securities available for sale, income taxes, share-based compensation and derivatives. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management discussed our critical accounting estimates with our Audit Committee.

Share-Based Payments. We grant options to purchase our common stock to our employees and directors under our stock option plans. The benefits provided under these plans are share-based payments subject to the provisions of revised Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (FAS 123R), "Share-Based Payment." Effective January 1, 2006, we use the fair value method to apply the provisions of FAS 123R with a modified prospective application which provides for certain changes to the method for valuing share-based compensation. The valuation provisions of FAS 123R apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified or cancelled. Under the modified prospective application, prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes. Share-based compensation expense recognized under FAS 123R for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $.401 million. At March 31, 2006, total unrecognized estimated compensation expense related to non-vested awards granted prior to that date was $2.314 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.25 years.

Upon adoption of FAS 123R, we began estimating the value of share-based awards on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model (Black-Scholes model). Prior to the adoption of FAS 123R, the value of each share-based award was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model for the pro forma information required to be disclosed under FAS 123. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by our stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, our expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.

If factors change and we employ different assumptions in the application of FAS 123R in future periods, the compensation expense that we record under FAS 123R may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the current period. Therefore, we believe it is important for investors to be aware of the high degree of subjectivity involved when using option pricing models to estimate share-based compensation under FAS 123R. Option-pricing models were developed for use in estimating the value of traded options that have no vesting or hedging restrictions, are fully transferable and do not cause dilution. Because our share-based payments have characteristics significantly different from those of freely traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect our estimates of fair values, in our opinion, existing valuation models, including the Black-Scholes, may not provide reliable measures of the fair values of our share-based compensation. Consequently, there is a risk that our estimates of the fair values of our share-based compensation awards on the grant dates may bear little resemblance to the actual values realized upon the exercise, expiration, early termination or forfeiture of those share-based payments in the future. Certain share-based payments, such as employee stock options, may expire worthless or otherwise result in zero intrinsic value as compared to the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements. Alternatively, value may be realized from these instruments that is significantly in excess of the fair values originally estimated on the grant date and reported in our financial statements. There is currently no market-based mechanism or other practical application to verify the reliability and accuracy of the estimates stemming from these valuation models, nor is there a means to compare and adjust the estimates to actual values. Although the fair value of employee share-based awards is determined in accordance with FAS 123R and the Securities and Exchange Commission's Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107) using an option-pricing model, that value may not be indicative of the fair value observed in a willing buyer/willing seller market transaction.

Estimates of share-based compensation expenses are significant to our financial statements, but these expenses are based on the aforementioned option valuation model and will never result in the payment of cash by us.

The guidance in FAS 123R and SAB 107 is relatively new, and best practices are not well established. The application of these principles may be subject to further interpretation and refinement over time. There are significant differences among valuation models, and there is a possibility that we will adopt different valuation models in the future. This may result in a lack of consistency in future periods and materially affect the fair value estimate of share-based payments. It may also result in a lack of comparability with other companies that use different models, methods and assumptions.

Theoretical valuation models and market-based methods are evolving and may result in lower or higher fair value estimates for share-based compensation. The timing, readiness, adoption, general acceptance, reliability and testing of these methods is uncertain. Sophisticated mathematical models may require voluminous historical information, modeling expertise, financial

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analyses, correlation analyses, integrated software and databases, consulting fees, customization and testing for adequacy of internal controls.

For purposes of estimating the fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 using the Black-Scholes model, we used the historical volatility of our stock for the expected volatility assumption input to the Black-Scholes model, consistent with the guidance in FAS 123R and SAB 107.

The risk-free interest rate is based on the risk-free zero-coupon rate for a period consistent with the contractual life of the option in effect at the time of grant.

We do not currently pay nor do we anticipate paying dividends but we are required to assume a dividend yield as an input to the Black-Scholes model.

The expected option term is estimated using both historical term measures and projected termination estimate.

The following is management's discussion and analysis of certain significant factors, which have affected the Company's results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005.

Product Revenue. Product revenue in the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment for the three months ended March 31, 2006 increased in comparison to the same period in 2005 by $.110 million, or 7.8%, to $1.513 million. This increase is the result of capacitance product sales, which have more than doubled since last year ($654 thousand in 2006 versus $305 thousand in 2005) due to $268 thousand of new business and increased shipments to our distributor in Singapore. This increase offsets a 23% drop in aviation revenue stemming from a $250 thousand decline in activity under the ongoing Retrofit and Maintenance contract with the US Air Force ($271 thousand in 2006 compared to $521 thousand in 2005).

Information regarding government contracts included in product revenue is as follows:

Funded Research and Development Revenue. Funded research and development revenue in the New Energy segment for the three months ended March 31, 2006 decreased in comparison to the same period in 2005 by $.279 million to $.045 million, an 86.1% decrease. The decrease in revenue is primarily the result of suspension of existing Department of Energy (DOE) funding for 2006 and the completion of other programs which were active in 2005 including NYSERDA, Marine Corps. and the NIST (CSMP) subcontract.

Information regarding government contracts included in funded research and development revenue is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands, except contract values)