- Global fuel cell pioneer celebrates 40th birthday through
expected purchase of Toyota Mirai FCEVs by Ballard
employees
- Hydrogen movement continues to gain momentum in British Columbia and globally
BURNABY, BC, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP), a global fuel cell pioneer celebrating
its 40th anniversary in 2019, today announced that it
has arranged for several Ballard employees to purchase B.C.'s
first fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) from Toyota
Canada Inc. (TCI). Ballard employees are expected to purchase the
Toyota Mirai zero-emission FCEVs powered by hydrogen in 2019, with
initial vehicle deliveries completed today.
"Electrification of transportation is a global megatrend that is
needed to help mitigate the impact of climate change and improve
air quality," said Randy MacEwen,
President and CEO of Ballard Power Systems. "Zero-emission fuel
cell electric vehicles, or FCEVs, are a key part of the electric
vehicle solution that will positively change the lives of the next
generation. For 40 years, Ballard has been relentlessly developing
and improving fuel cell technology, so we're extremely proud that
dedicated Ballard employees have agreed to purchase B.C.'s first
fleet of fuel cell electric cars."
For decades, Canadian companies like Ballard have been playing
leading roles in the development of a global hydrogen society, and
the movement has recently gained momentum in British Columbia. The country's first publicly
accessible retail hydrogen station opened in Vancouver last summer, with another station
poised to open in Burnaby shortly.
Earlier this year, Natural Resources Canada and the B.C. government
announced they are contributing a combined $3 million to build two new retail hydrogen
refueling stations in the province's Lower Mainland, and it is
expected that Greater Vancouver
and Victoria will have a network
of six stations by 2020.
With the Mirai now available for purchase by fleet operators at
12 authorized Mirai dealerships in the Vancouver area, Toyota is the first automaker
to bring hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to
Canada en masse. The company has
been working with other hydrogen stakeholders across Canada to put in place the necessary fueling
infrastructure, training and service to support the sale of
FCEVs.
"We couldn't think of a more appropriate partner for B.C.'s
first fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles than the team
at Ballard Power Systems," added Stephen
Beatty, Vice President, Corporate at Toyota Canada Inc.
"Ballard is a true global fuel cell pioneer and one of Canada's most innovative and impactful
companies, so we're proud to add Ballard employees as Toyota
customers."
The Mirai, which means "future" in Japanese, is a zero-emission
FCEV that is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, uses no gasoline and
emits only water vapor from its tailpipe. With performance that
competes with traditional internal combustion engines, the Mirai
boasts an approximately 500km range and refuels in about five
minutes. This range - and no need to wait hours for a charge -
means there is no compromise required for drivers: they can drive a
FCEV without changing their driving or fueling habits.
Electrified vehicles will be a huge part of Toyota's global
mandate going forward. By 2030, every Toyota and Lexus model will
be a dedicated electrified model or have an electrified option, and
50% of Toyota's global sales (about 5.5 million vehicles per year)
will be electrified. One million of them will be zero-emission
vehicles.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems'
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for
a sustainable planet. The Company builds fuel cell products that
reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve
difficult technical challenges or address new business
opportunities. To learn more about Ballard, please visit
www.ballard.com.
About Toyota Canada Inc.
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is
the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Toyota has sold over eight million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287
Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing
safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles
Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is
located in Toronto, with regional
offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centers in
Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing
facilities in Canada. Having
produced more than eight million vehicles, popular Canadian models
built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid,
Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its
facilities in Ontario will allow
for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4
Hybrid models.
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ballard-power-systems-announces-purchase-of-bcs-first-fleet-of-hydrogen-powered-fuel-cell-electric-vehicles-300886175.html
SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.