Zero-emission proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells manufacturer Ballard Power Systems signed a joint development and supply agreement last month to develop and commercialise a fuel cell engine specifically designed for integration into low-floor trams manufactured by Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC Qingdao Sifang.
The agreements include the 2016 delivery of ten customised FCvelocity fuel cell modules, with the initial value of the modules estimated at $6-million.
Ballard plans to develop a new prototype configuration for its FCvelocity fuel cell module to deliver 200 kW of net power for use in powering trams in urban deployments areas.
CRRC Qingdao Sifang and the City of Foshan, in China, plans to initially deploy eight fuel-cell-powered trams, starting in 2017, on the Gaoming line.
“We are pleased with the strong relationship we are developing with CRRC Sifang, a company with a rich history of innovation in Chinese rail transit, to pursue the China market opportunity for fuel-cell-powered trams,” says Ballard Power Systems CEO Randy MacEwen.
CRRC Sifang, based in Qingdao, Shandong province, has a yearly production capacity of 200 high-speed electric multiple units (EMUs), 1 000 mass transit vehicles and 300 high-grade passenger cars.
In March, a Ballard fuel cell module powered the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell-powered fixed-rail electric tram. This was successfully demonstrated at a ceremonial event held at CRRC Sifang’s head office, which also serves as a production and testing facility.
“Clean urban transportation is a high priority in China. Our collaboration with Ballard to develop a purpose-built engine for our low-floor tram and the initial planned deployments in Foshan position us well for this attractive opportunity,” says CRRC Qingdao Sifang VP Luo Bin.
He notes that Ballard is the company’s chosen partner for fuel cell technology because it has fuel cell expertise, experience and capabilities, and focuses on safety, reliability and quality.
“Our planned move towards clean mass transit technology is being accelerated with the announcement of fuel-cell-powered trams and 300 fuel-cell-powered buses in Foshan,” states City of Foshan vice mayor Xu Guo.
These two announcements provide concrete evidence that Ballard’s customercentric China strategy is moving towards an “unparalleled level of industry success”, concludes Ballard Power Systems sales director for Asia and the Pacific Alfred Wong.