Ballard Power Systems continues to gain traction in the clean energy fuel cell bus market, utilizing its FCvelocityTM-HD6 power modules for customers in a number of geographic markets. In addition to 2011 module shipments for bus deployments in Europe (Norway, London), Brazil and the United States, the following important news announcements were made in December 2011:
Ballard Signs Supply Agreement with Van Hool For 21 Bus Modules in Europe
Ballard signed an equipment supply agreement with Van Hool NV, Europe's fourth largest bus manufacturer, for 21 of Ballard's latest-generation FCvelocityTM-HD6 fuel cell power modules. The majority of these will be shipped in 2012.
Ballard Signs a Letter of Intent to Ppwer 25 Buses in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ballard signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with The city of Sao Paulo, Brazil for 25 FCvelocityTM-HD6 fuel cell modules to power buses in that city. Delivery of the modules is planned for 2012. A final agreement with the city of Sao Paulo is now in negotiation.
These substantial volumes are a meaningful foundation for significant progress toward commercialization of fuel cell buses in 2012. In addition to work underway at Ballard to further reduce the cost of our power module (through extended lifetime), large-volume orders are key to generating economies-of-scale in the production of these clean energy buses, from an end-to-end perspective.
Also in December 2011, it's noteworthy that the largest existing fuel cell-powered bus fleet in the world – which also uses FCvelocityTM-HD6 power modules – achieved its 1-millionth mile of operation in revenue service. This milestone serves to validate the reliable and commercial state of the technology.
Ballard Modules Power BC Transit Bus Fleet Thru 1-Million Miles of Service
The 20-bus fleet operated by BC Transit in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, British Columbia and powered by Ballard FCvelocityTM-HD6 fuel cell modules, recently surpassed 1-million miles (1.6-million kilometers) of revenue service.
