Ballard Power Systems announced it has signed $3 million agreement to develop a new fuel cell module that will be designed to meet the requirements of tram or Modern Ground Rail Transit Equipment applications.
The value of this work to Ballard is approximately $3 million and represents the next step toward a commercial product, following the June 2015 signing and announcement of a framework agreement between the Companies.
The growing need for mass transit solutions in China, together with acknowledgement of the severe air quality issues, makes fuel cell-powered trams an intriguing market opportunity. And Ballard is well positioned to address this opportunity, given our ongoing work with TRC, said Randy MacEwen, Ballard’s president and CEO.
Ballard is well positioned to address this opportunity, MacEwen added.
This agreement contemplates that TRC trams will use next-generation Ballard fuel cell power modules designed specifically for the Modern Ground Rail Transit Equipment application, with a goal of powering the initial prototype by 2016.
The purpose-designed product is expected to deliver at least 200 kilowatts of power and have a lifetime of at least 20,000 operating hours.
Rajani Baburajan