Ballard Power Systems says it has received an order from a Chinese customer to supply its FCvelocity-HD7 power modules for eight buses that will be deployed in a number of Chinese cities.
A program involving 48 Chinese cities has an objective of expanding public transit while also reducing the number of vehicles in cities. One of the program's specific goals is to deploy more than 1,000 ‘clean energy’ buses in each of its participating cities, taking advantage of government subsidies to facilitate this expansion. Fuel-cell buses, along with electric buses, are eligible for a subsidy of approximately USD$150,000, through 2017. In addition, hydrogen fueling stations are eligible for a further subsidy of approximately USD$650,000.
‘We are now beginning to see meaningful evidence of growing demand for clean energy mass transportation alternatives in China, including both buses and trams,’ says Randy MacEwen, Ballard's president and CEO. ‘This demand is being driven by a pressing need to address China's challenging air quality issues, for which fuel cell technology is seen as an emerging option.’
Ballard expects to ship all eight modules this year.
