Ballard Power Systems (Vancouver, Canada) reported on January 21st that it has been awarded up to $4.8 million by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for a project to further develop fuel cell power module technology for the transit bus market. Design improvements will be implemented on test buses to be operated in Metro Vancouver, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010.
"The Government of Canada is committed to supporting alternate sources of energy, including hydrogen," said the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. "By supporting innovative hydrogen and fuel cell research projects, such as Ballard's power module, we are putting more zero-emissions vehicles on the road while creating high quality jobs and improving the health of Canadians."
"Heavy duty diesel vehicles account for almost half of Canada's road transportation greenhouse gas emissions," said Vicky Sharpe, President and CEO of SDTC. "The technology developed by Ballard will increase the cost-effectiveness and performance of fuel cell hybrid buses, making them more accessible to public transit authorities and helping Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions."
Michael Goldstein, Ballard's Chief Commercial Officer added "This level of support from the Canadian federal government and SDTC will have a measurable impact on the evolution of clean energy fuel cell products for commercial mass transit applications here in Canada and in locations around the globe."
In the development project funded by SDTC, Ballard and it's system integration partner, ISE Corporation, will design, assemble and test key sub-components for Ballard's FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power module and the hybrid electric drive system. Refinement of this critical new technology will facilitate the commercial introduction of fuel cell hybrid buses by reducing cost, improving durability and robustness of select sub-systems, and improving overall bus performance.
Ballard's power module is a 'plug-and-play' fuel cell-based product that enables system integrators to build clean energy buses more easily and at lower cost. The fuel cell hybrid platform eliminates all emissions from bus tailpipes, while meeting the demands of range and duty cycle for virtually any bus route.
Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length foundation created by the Government of Canada which has received $1.05 billion as part of the Government's commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians.
SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech Fund(TM) supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund(TM) supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels.
SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all levels of government to achieve this mandate.
