VANCOUVER, Feb. 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLD) today announced that it expects to supply
ten (10) FCvelocity®-HD6 fuel cell modules to power
clean energy buses as part of two projects that were recently
awarded funding by the U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
under the Low and No Emission (LoNo) Vehicle Deployment
Program.
Ballard's partners are BAE
Systems, a system integrator and major supplier of hybrid drive
components, and ElDorado National, a key North American bus OEM.
Together the companies plan to supply ten (10) zero-emission fuel
cell buses, 5 each to SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California and Stark Area
Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) in Canton, Ohio.
"Ballard views the global bus
market as a significant market opportunity for our clean energy
Power Products," said Kevin White,
Ballard's recently hired Director
of Sales, Americas. "We are certainly encouraged with progress in
the U.S. market towards an increase in the volume of zero-emission
fuel cell buses being deployed with transit agencies through
programs such as LoNo."
SunLine Transit Agency will receive $9.8
million in funding from the FTA to purchase and deploy 5
hydrogen electric hybrid 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.
In addition, SARTA will receive $8.8
million in funding from the FTA to purchase and deploy 5
hydrogen fuel cell buses. The new zero-emission buses will be
operated under a variety of operating conditions in congested
downtown areas, on major urban roads and on rural highways. SARTA
provides more than 2.7 million rides per year throughout
Stark County, Ohio.
Ballard expects to receive
orders for these modules once agreements with the transit agencies
are finalized and expects to begin shipments in the second half of
2015. CALSTART, the nation's leading nonprofit consortium of clean
transportation technology companies, will also be involved as a
project partner.
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 module to
provide primary power, in combination with BAE Systems'
HybriDrive® propulsion and power management systems
deployed in an ElDorado National 40-foot (12-meter) Axess model
transit bus.
The LoNo 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 recharging, refueling and maintenance facilities.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLD) 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 government fundingand follow on orders from our
customers. 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.