Van Hool, a Ballard partner in Europe, will be building eight ExquiCity tram-buses which will be energized using the aforementioned fuel cell engines during the second half of 2019.
Ballard’s Technology team is working relentlessly to provide clean services in order to accelerate fuel cell development not only in the United States but also across other markets in Canada, China, and Europe.
The company announced its collaboration with Nisshinbo Holdings, an Environmental and Energy company, to develop a Non Precious Metal Catalyst (NPMC) that will be utilized in the world’s first commercialized NPMC-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell product in Canada. This new technology is expected to reduce the amount of platinum in an air-cooled fuel cell stack by more than 80% .
In July, the company had announced that it entered into a agreement with SunLine Transit Agency to supply five 150 kilowatt (KW) FCveloCity fuel cell engines. Per the agreement, Ballard’s collaboration with BAE Systems BAESY , supplier of electric drive systems, and North American bus OEM, ElDorado National, will deliver transit service by supplying fuel cell buses to SunLine Transit Agency. (Read more: Ballard Power to Supply Fuel Cell Buses to SunLine Transit )
Fuel cell electric buses provide affordable zero-emission transportation. Governments worldwide are focused on developing clean energy transportation systems in direct response to climatic effects of air pollution caused by conventional engines.
Notably, fuel cells have become a viable option for vehicles as a result of this technology. Consequently, it has been drawing attention due to zero emissions and reliability benefits. Apart from Ballard Power other companies like Plug Power PLUG and FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCEL are taking steps toward introducing novel fuel cell alternatives.
