VANCOUVER, BC and SEATTLE, March 1,
2023 /PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:
BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) and global carbon reduction company First Mode
today announced a purchase order for Ballard to supply First Mode
with 30 hydrogen fuel cell modules – totaling 3 megawatts – to
power several hybrid hydrogen and battery ultra-class mining haul
trucks. This is the equivalent of approximately 4,000
horsepower.
"Every one of the Ballard fuel cell modules that First Mode
retrofits into an ultra-class haul truck means an immediate
reduction in diesel fuel use and moving the mining industry another
step closer to decarbonization," said Julian Soles, First Mode CEO. "We're excited to
continue to innovate with Ballard. Utilizing hydrogen and battery
technology in our nuGen™ systems allows our customers to achieve
the best haul truck performance and range without sacrificing
availability."
The 30 Ballard hydrogen fuel cell modules will be integrated
into clean energy powerplants built in Seattle, Washington and installed into
ultra-class haul trucks to be operated at First Mode's Proving
Grounds in Centralia, Washington.
These trucks are estimated to save 2,600 tons of diesel fuel each
year.
"We are excited to expand our important collaboration with First
Mode," said David Mucciacciaro,
Ballard's Chief Commercial Officer. "The mining industry annually
contributes up to 7% of the world's carbon emissions and roughly
half of these emissions comes from mobile diesel applications,
including haul trucks. Together with First Mode, we are continuing
to demonstrate a viable pathway to decarbonize mining trucks by
using Ballard's leading hydrogen fuel cells. These additional truck
deployments highlight the opportunities ahead for fuel cell
commercialization in hard-to-abate sectors."
First Mode is now working to scale production for the next
generation of clean energy powerplants. In January 2023, First Mode entered into a global
supply agreement with Anglo American
to retrofit over 400 ultra-class haul trucks with First Mode's
nuGen™ solution, including fuel cell and battery powerplant and
related infrastructure. The Ballard fuel cells will be integrated
into the next several powerplants built by First Mode.
First Mode and Ballard first partnered in 2019 to supply fuel
cells for the world's first 2-megawatt hybrid hydrogen fuel cell
and battery powerplant designed and built by First Mode in
Seattle, Washington. The clean
energy powerplant replaced a diesel engine on a 300-ton
Komatsu 930E-4 ultra-class haul truck that is currently operating
at Anglo American's Platinum Group Metals mine site in Mogalakwena,
South Africa.
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, and stationary power. 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.
About First Mode
First Mode is a global carbon reduction company developing
creative, clean energy solutions for heavy industry's toughest
problems. We started by removing the diesel engine from a colossal
mining truck and replacing it with a hybrid hydrogen and battery
powerplant. A world-first, and the world's largest. But we're not
stopping there. We are also working on providing critical mine site
infrastructure for hydrogen production, battery recharging, and
hydrogen refueling. Today, we're starting at the source, the mining
industry, and tomorrow the larger supply chain, to completely
eliminate the use of diesel and speed the clean energy transition.
www.firstmode.com
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.