Ballard Power Systems, New Flyer Industries, and ISE Corporation have signed an agreement to supply a fuel cell hybrid bus to SunLine Transit Agency in California that is powered by an FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power module from Ballard. Currently, 20 buses that are similar to this 40-foot fuel cell bus are in operation in Whistler, B.C. This fuel cell bus, which has been delivered, will enter regular service in 2010.
Ballard Power’s FCvelocity(TM)-HD6 power module will be used to power an El Dorado fuel cell hybrid bus through the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. BAE Systems’ series hybrid electric drive is featured in this hybrid fuel cell bus. Ballard will deliver the fuel cell power module in this quarter while the hybrid bus will be supplied to the agency in 2011.
President and CEO of Ballard, John Sheridan, said the company’s goal is to provide its customers the benefits offered by the fuel cells. The new contracts demonstrate the commercial demands for its fuel cell products. The fuel cell hybrid buses meant for SunLine Transit Agency are in addition to the existing 20 hybrid buses operating in Whistler, and other buses will be delivered in Cologne, Amsterdam, and London later this year, Sheridan said.
The “plug-and-play” feature of the power modules manufactured by Ballard Power Systems allows integrators to build hybrid clean energy buses at lower cost and more easily. Sub-system components are integrated into this power module and they address water management, humidification, hydrogen pressure regulation, ventilation, and hydrogen recirculation. Since the fuel cell stacks and sub-system components are within the power module, they can be easily integrated with the electric drive system of the hybrid bus.