Canada-based Ballard Power Systems has signed definitive license and supply agreements with Nantong Zehe New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (Zehe) and Guangdong Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co. Ltd. (Synergy) to provide fuel cell power products and technology solutions to support the planned deployment of an initial 33 fuel-cell-powered buses in two Chinese cities. Ballard says the deal has an estimated value of $10 million.
Ballard and Zehe are collaborating with electric bus manufacturer Jiangsu GreenWheel New Energy Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd. in the city of Rugao in Jiangsu province. Ballard and Synergy, meanwhile, are collaborating with electric bus manufacturer Foshan Feichi Automobile Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in the city of Yunfu in Guangdong province. The municipal governments in the cities of Yunfu and Rugao plan to have fuel cell bus fleets operating in revenue service in 2016.
Ballard says the agreement was signed at a ceremony held Monday in Beijing and attended by dignitaries, including Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's ambassador to China.
At the ceremony, Randy MacEwen, Ballard president and CEO, said, ‘We continue to see strong growth opportunities in China's mass transit market where fuel cells are increasingly being discussed as the next generation of clean propulsion. This demand is being driven by China's growing need for clean urban mass transit and air quality policies.’
In April, Ballard announced an initial order from Zehe for the supply of FCvelocity-HD7 modules to power eight buses, which now forms part of the new deal with Zehe. Ballard expects to ship all of these modules this year.
At Monday's ceremony, Ballard expanded its relationship with Zehe to include the supply of additional power products and technology solutions, including a non-exclusive license for local assembly of FCvelocity-HD7 power modules for use in clean energy buses in China. In addition, Ballard will be the exclusive supplier of its proprietary fuel cell stacks for use in power modules assembled under this deal. A similar deal was signed with Synergy.
