Ballard Announces Sale of Fuel Cell Power Modules to Advanced Public Transportation Systems bv in Europe
January 11 2010 - 3:15PM
PR Newswire (US)
- APTS is a European specialty bus OEM based in The Netherlands -
Ballard power modules will be deployed on four advanced APTS
Phileas buses - APTS Phileas buses represent a new zero emission
concept for mass transit in Europe VANCOUVER, Jan. 11
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ:
BLDP) announced that it has received a sales order for five
FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power modules from Advanced Public
Transportation Systems bv (APTS), a specialty bus OEM in The
Netherlands, part of the VDL Group. The 150-kilowatt power modules
will be installed and integrated by Vossloh-Kiepe with hybrid
electric drive systems in 18-meter (60-foot) articulated Phileas
buses manufactured by APTS. Phileas is a new concept for passenger
transport on high frequency dedicated bus lanes. When running on a
free bus lane and equipped with magnetic markers for electronic
lane assistance and precision docking, Phileas buses can offer the
advantages of rapid rail transport. 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. These power modules incorporate sub-system components
addressing humidification, hydrogen pressure regulation, hydrogen
recirculation, water management, ventilation and controls. Since
these sub-system components and fuel cell stacks are optimized
within a power module, they can be more readily integrated with the
bus hybrid electric drive system. Michael Goldstein, Ballard's
Chief Commercial Officer stated, "The deployment of our
FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power modules with APTS and other customers such
as BC Transit and Transport for London mean that fuel cell-based
power solutions are gaining real traction in the global mass
transit marketplace, delivering GHG reductions and energy
conservation benefits." He continued, "Ballard's foundation of
reliability and durability are an ideal fit for our customers in
motive power, backup power and distributed generation." All the
power modules will be shipped to APTS by the second quarter of 2010
and the first APTS Phileas bus incorporating a Ballard power module
will be produced this year. Two Phileas buses powered by Ballard
fuel cell modules will be operating in Cologne, Germany and two
will be operating in Amsterdam. APTS currently has 70 Phileas buses
in operation worldwide. Ruud Bouwman, Director of APTS said, "We
are certainly pleased to be working with Ballard on our Phileas
buses. APTS sees a sizable potential European market for this fuel
cell 'tram on tires' concept, with each fuel cell bus reducing CO2
emissions up to 155 tons per year." Ballard's participation in
demonstration programs through five generations of heavy duty fuel
cell power modules has yielded over two million kilometers (1.2
million miles) of actual revenue service, transporting over seven
million passengers on buses in various locations around the world.
Ballard's next generation heavy duty fuel cell power module, the
FCvelocity(TM)-HD6, delivers enhanced fuel cell durability and
improved efficiency at a reduced cost, while offering an industry
leading 12,000-hour (5-year) warranty. About Ballard Power Systems
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
http://www.ballard.com/. This release contains forward-looking
statements, which are provided to enable external stakeholders to
understand Ballard's expectations as at the date of this release
and may not be appropriate for other purposes. These
forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions
of Ballard's management and 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. Such assumptions relate to Ballard's financial forecasts
and expectations regarding its product development efforts,
manufacturing capacity, and market demand, and include matters such
as generating new sales, producing, delivering and selling the
expected number of units, and controlling its costs. These
statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Ballard's
actual results to be materially different, including, without
limitation, the condition of the global economy, the rate of mass
adoption of its products, product development delays, changing
environmental regulations, its ability to attract and retain
business partners and customers, its access to funding, increased
competition, its ability to protect its intellectual property,
changes in its customers' requirements, foreign exchange impacts on
its net monetary assets and its ability to provide the capital
required for product development, operations and marketing. For a
detailed discussion of these risk factors 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. DATASOURCE: Ballard Power Systems Inc.
CONTACT: Investor Relations: Lori Rozali, (604) 412-3195, ; Public
Relations: Guy McAree, (604) 412-7919,
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