VANCOUVER, BC, March 16, 2021
/PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP)
today announced that the Company's FCmove® fuel
cell module is powering the first-ever Fuel Cell Electric Bus
(FCEB) manufactured in New
Zealand. The FCEB has been designed and built by Global Bus
Ventures (GBV; www.globalbusventures.co.nz), a leading bus
manufacturer serving New Zealand,
Australia, Asia and the Middle
East, and is currently completing testing activities with
planned deployment in revenue service later this month with
Auckland Transport.
New Zealand passed its
Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act 2019,
putting the country on a path to net zero emissions by 2050 and
making it one of the few countries to have a zero-emissions goal
enshrined in law.
Also, in 2019 Global Bus Ventures was awarded a contract by
Auckland Transport – which has responsibility for all transport
services in the city – for the supply of a Fuel Cell Electric Bus
to be used as part of the Ports of Auckland hydrogen fuel production and
refueling plant trial. The GBV-designed FCEB has been road-tested
over the past several weeks in the city of Rolleston and was
delivered to Auckland Transport earlier this month.
Mike Parker, Executive Vice
President at Global Bus Ventures said, "We selected Ballard as they
have a strong fuel cell history in mobile applications and their
latest FCmove® product is a perfect fit for us. The
fact that the system was commissioned remotely due to the COVID
border restrictions shows the quality of the Ballard support team
and the can-do attitude and ingenuity of our New Zealand engineering team. The successful
running of this system paves the way for a strong future in
manufacturing these high-technology zero-emission buses in
New Zealand."
Rob Campbell, Ballard Chief
Commercial Officer noted, "Ballard is delighted to be working with
Global Bus Ventures in New Zealand
and to be powering the first-ever FCEB in that country. This
important step in New Zealand is
another clear indication of the growing global interest in fuel
cells as the primary propulsion system for Medium- and Heavy-Duty
Motive applications, including transit buses, where key
requirements include heavy payload, long range and fast refueling.
These are all needs that can be met cost-effectively with Ballard
fuel cell modules and hydrogen fuel."
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems'
(NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for
a sustainable planet. Ballard zero-emission PEM fuel cells are
enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial
trucks, trains, marine vessels, passenger cars and forklift trucks.
To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
anticipated product performance and other characteristics, product
deliveries and deployments. These forward-looking statements
reflect Ballard's current expectations as contemplated under
section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such
forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's assumptions
relating to its financial forecasts and expectations regarding its
product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market
demand.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause
Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including
general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on
third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and
achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion
of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future
performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual
Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on
Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no
obligation to update or release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements, other than as required under applicable
legislation.
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.