VANCOUVER, July 18, 2017 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that it has received an
order from SunLine Transit Agency ("SunLine") for five (5)
FCveloCity® fuel cell engines to power clean energy
buses in Palm Desert, California.
The 150 kilowatt engines are expected to be shipped in 2017.
Ballard is partnering with
ElDorado National, a key North American bus OEM, and BAE Systems, a
system integrator and major supplier of electric drive systems, to
deliver buses to SunLine Transit Agency.
"We are very pleased with the continued progress in deployment
of zero-emission mass transit alternatives in the U.S. market,"
said Rob Campbell, Ballard's Chief Commercial Officer. "Our
partnership with SunLine, ElDorado National and BAE Systems puts
Ballard at the forefront of North
American fuel cell bus deployments and further adds momentum to the
growing global trend toward clean energy buses and other heavy duty
transit solutions."
SunLine Transit Agency received funding from the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) to purchase and deploy 5 hydrogen electric
fuel cell buses. This will double SunLine's current fleet of fuel
cell buses and allow it to offer expanded transit service in the
Coachella Valley area of Southern
California.
The buses will use the previously deployed American Fuel Cell
Bus (AFCB) configuration, first introduced with SunLine Transit
Agency in 2011. The AFCB configuration utilizes Ballard's heavy duty fuel cell engine to
provide primary power, in combination with BAE Systems' electric
propulsion and power management systems deployed in an ENC 40-foot
(12-meter) Axess model transit bus. There are currently 13 AFCBs
deployed with various transit agencies across North America, with another 10 on order
including these 5 for SunLine.
Funding was provided by the FTA under the Low or No Emission
(LoNo) Vehicle Program. The LoNo Vehicle Program is designed to
support deployment of clean, energy-efficient buses in transit
fleets. The program provides funding to transit agencies for
capital acquisitions and leases of zero-emission and low-emission
transit buses, including acquisition, construction and leasing of
required infrastructure such as refueling and maintenance
facilities.
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 their fuel cell
programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
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
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.
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 States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.
SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.