VANCOUVER and DERBY, U.K.,
Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/
- Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today
announced that it has received a purchase order from Porterbrook
Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook"; www.porterbrook.co.uk), a
leading participant in the rail leasing market, for an
FCveloCity®-HD fuel cell module and related support to
power a HydroFLEX train in the U.K.
Earlier this year U.K. Rail Minister, Jo Johnson MP, challenged
the rail industry to develop decarbonisation plans, with the
objective of removing diesel-only trains from the network by 2040.
HydroFLEX is an innovative response to this challenge from
Porterbrook and the University of
Birmingham's "Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and
Education" (BCRRE), bringing together industry and academia in
partnership to deliver the U.K.'s first-in-class clean energy
passenger train.
Porterbrook will provide a Class 319 electric train for
conversion by BCRRE's technical and research experts into a
HydroFLEX hydrogen-powered train. The train will utilize Ballard's
power module and Ballard will also provide system controls
development, mechanical integration of sub-systems and other
components.
The HydroFLEX will be the U.K.'s first fully sized hydrogen
demonstrator train. It will showcase how hydrogen can be used to
power a train that retains the ability to operate across existing
electric routes, on either 3rd rail or 25kV overhead
power. Testing and demonstration runs are planned for the summer of
2019 at RailLive, which will take place at Long Marston in
Warwickshire.
Stephen McGurk, Porterbrook Chief
Commercial Officer said, "I am delighted that BCRRE has chosen to
work with Porterbrook on this exciting fuel cell project. We have
also engaged Ballard, a leading fuel cell company, to supply a fuel
cell module and support services. The HydroFLEX will not only
showcase rail innovation, it will also demonstrate how the private
sector railway can effectively partner with educational bodies to
jointly deliver real benefits to passengers, train operators and
the communities our railways serve."
Jesper Themsen, President and CEO of Ballard Power Systems
Europe A/S added, "We are pleased to work with Porterbrook and
BCRRE on the HydroFLEX rail program. As evidenced by this activity
in the U.K., along with our work on fuel cell rail programs in
Germany and China, momentum is rapidly building behind the
development and deployment of Heavy Duty Motive fuel cell solutions
for both inter-city trains as well as intra-city trams. Ballard is
now actively working with a number of the world's most important
players in the rolling stock sector, including Porterbrook, to meet
this growing requirement."
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
anticipated deliveries and deployments of 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.
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.