Ballard sells 100 Mark9 SSL's to General Hydrogen

NEWS from FuelCells.org


Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD, Nasdaq: BLDP) today announced that it is has signed a Supply Agreement with General Hydrogen (Canada) Corporation (“General Hydrogen”) to deliver more than 100 Mark9 SSL™ fuel cells, ranging in power output from 4.8 kilowatts to 21.1 kilowatts, for integration into General Hydrogen’s power units, currently available for early commercial sales in the lift truck market.


Ballard expects to begin unit deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2005. The Supply Agreement runs through the fourth quarter of 2006. Following anticipated commercial sales in 2006, Ballard and General Hydrogen have the option to negotiate a follow-on supply agreement to support higher volumes in 2007 and beyond.


“Our Mark9 SSL™ fuel cells are attracting a great deal of interest from potential customers worldwide. The flexibility of our Mk 902 fuel cell platform, which was developed for automotive applications, provides systems integrators like General Hydrogen with a high-value, cost-effective alternative to the conventional technologies being used in fork lift applications today,” said Noordin Nanji, Ballard’s Vice President, Marketing & Business Development.


“We are now into commercial sales and this agreement with Ballard provides a solid foundation going forward, as we have secured a source of product that will allow us to be extremely competitive in the Class 1 forklift truck market,” said Frank Trotter, General Hydrogen’s President and CEO. “The lift truck market for battery replacement technology is here and now and represents a major market opportunity for General Hydrogen. The market is driven not only by the economic need to be as efficient as possible, but also the requirement to meet ever-increasing environmental standards in the workplace for the health and safety of workers. This agreement allows for future negotiations to further enhance our price competitiveness once we get certain volume sales, which we are very optimistic about.”


Read more at Ballard.com