VANCOUVER, BC and
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA, June 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that the company's
subsidiary, Protonex, has received an initial order for its fuel
cell propulsion system, together with design services, from FlyH2
Aerospace ("FlyH2"; www.flyh2.com), a South African-based developer
of hydrogen fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for
commercial applications. For competitive reasons, commercial
details of this order are confidential.
FlyH2 plans to integrate the Protonex fuel cell system into all
three of its aircraft currently in the development pipeline,
beginning with the UA Plant prototype drone, followed by its
UA Alpha flagship aircraft. UA Plant is expected to
be a 30 kilogram (66 lb.) fuel cell-powered agricultural utility
aircraft with 9-hour flight endurance.
UA Alpha will be a long-range, long-endurance survey and
reconnaissance aircraft designed to carry advanced sensors.
Specifications include a wingspan of 8.2 meters (27 feet), maximum
cruising altitude of 4,250 meters (14,000 feet) and flight distance
of more than 600 kilometers (370 miles). Onboard sensors will
survey environmental variables used in the management of fires,
pollution, erosion, alien vegetation and plant diseases. In a
similar development, FlyH2's third drone, the UA Gecko, is
being designed to monitor physical infrastructure, including roads,
bridges, pipelines and powerlines.
Dr. Paul Osenar, President of
Protonex said, "FlyH2 has tremendous expertise in the design and
development of drone systems, and recognizes the benefits offered
by fuel cell propulsion. When combined with improved reliability
and other advantages over internal combustion systems, fuel cells
are proving to be a high value fit for UAVs. These will be the
first civilian drones that we have powered, in addition to our work
on military UAVs with several global aerospace customers."
Mark van Wyk, Co-Founder of FlyH2
Aerospace added, "Protonex systems bring with them unique new
capabilities for our aircraft, allowing us to quickly fulfill our
vision of producing high quality, rugged and reliable
long-endurance electric unmanned aircraft."
A fuel cell propulsion system allows for endurances comparable
to an internal combustion engine, but with several added benefits.
These include silent operation, increased reliability, lower
vibration and less maintenance. The total cost of ownership is also
expected to be lower and the aircraft will only require one fuel
stop per day for all-day operations.
In agriculture, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles rather than
conventional piloted aircraft, which sometimes operate as low as
150 feet above the ground, reduces the risk to pilots and also
avoids noise abatement issues. In addition, the enhanced
reliability of fuel cell engines further protects people and
property on the ground.
To support integration of the Protonex fuel cell propulsion
system into its UA Plant aircraft, FlyH2 has partnered with
Epsilon Engineering ("Epsilon"; www.epsilon-eng.com), a South
African engineering and manufacturing services provider. Project
work is partially funded by the Government of South Africa as well as the South African
agriculture industry.
About Protonex
Protonex Technology Corporation, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems, is located in
Southborough, Massachusetts and is
a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced power management
products and portable fuel cell solutions for military and
commercial applications. To learn more about Protonex, please visit
www.protonex.com.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that
reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve
difficult technical and business challenges in power and energy. To
learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
anticipated product performance, customer benefits and market
demand for our products. 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
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obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward
looking statements, other than as required under applicable
legislation.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The Ballard
Common Shares have not been registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any
other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United
State s absent registration or an applicable exemption from
registration requirements.
SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.