Industry RelationsDemonstration Programs |
||
|
Ballard, as part of our commercialization process, participates in demonstration programs around the world, to showcase fuel cell technology for each market. Learn more about these programs here.
Demonstration Programs: Cogeneration Market Materials Handling Market Bus Market Automotive Market Cogeneration Market Demonstration Program Japanese Residential Cogeneration Program Ballard Power Systems, through our joint venture Ebara Ballard Corporation in Japan, is working hand-in-hand with major energy industry leaders such as Tokyo Gas and Nippon Oil, to expand the commercial scale of residential cogeneration systems operating on natural gas and kerosene fuels. Government Support Japan’s Large Scale Monitoring Program for fuel cell cogeneration systems was launched in 2005, as a multi-year activity to test and validate residential cogeneration systems all over Japan. The ongoing goal of this program is to promote the development of a new commercial industry using fuel cell technology to reduce primary energy consumption, improve the environment and offer homeowners a revolutionary new source of distributed energy generation. Since 2005, the Japanese government has provided industry subsidies averaging US$26 million annually to support commercialization of cogeneration technology. Starting with 480 systems delivered in 2005, the program has grew to 1257 systems in 2006 and will reach a cumulative total of over 2,250 systems by the end of 2007. As solid evidence of Japan’s commitment to fuel cell technology, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi became “customer number one”, with the installation of two fuel cell cogeneration systems at his official residence in Spring 2005. By the end of 2007 over 550 Ebara Ballard cogeneration units will be in homes throughout Japan, providing the energy and hot water needs of families on a daily basis. Materials Handling Market Demonstration Programs Ballard fuel cells demonstrate a wide range of productivity and reliability benefits over incumbent lead-acid battery technology. At year-end 2006, both Cellex Power and General Hydrogen, our lead customers*, completed successful field trials with large end users, including Wal-Mart and Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Company. Click on links below to learn more about these programs. Cellex Power demonstration program at Walmart General Hydrogen demonstration program at Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Company * Both companies were acquired by Plug Power in 2007 - www.plugpower.com. Bus Market Demonstration Programs Ballard’s participation in programs such as HyFLEET: CUTE, ECTOS and STEP has resulted in over 2 million kilometers of actual transit bus revenue service, during which we have transported over 6 million passengers. Ballard is currently developing our next generation heavy-duty fuel cell module in support of upcoming demonstration programs. European Fuel Cell Bus Project (HyFLEET: CUTE) European Fuel Cell Bus Project Leading the way in the adoption of zero-emission fuel cell technology, the European Union initiated a project designed to demonstrate the viability of fuel cells. The Clean Urban Transit for Europe (CUTE) saw the development and testing of 27 Mercedes Benz Citaro buses, powered by Ballard fuel cells - three each within nine cities in Europe. With the success of the CUTE program, a follow-on project (HyFLEET: CUTE) was created in 2006, extending the operation of buses in specific cities by up to two years. A number of milestones and accomplishments have taken place during the HyFLEET:CUTE program, many centered on the lifetime and durability of fuel cells, and the fuel cell engine components, while others have allowed the fuel cell buses to be featured in high-profile events. An affiliated project, ECTOS (Ecological City Transport System) demonstrated three Ballard powered Mercedes Benz Citaro buses in the challenging climate of Reykjavik, Iceland. Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in conjunction with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), contracted with Gillig Corporation and Ballard to build three hydrogen-powered, zero-emission fuel-cell buses for use in regular transit service. These buses have been in operation since 2004, accumulating more than 9,500 kilometers and 3,800 hours of operation. UNDP-GEF Beijing, China This project was developed under the UNDP-GEF guideline of promoting sustainable transportation in developing countries. A supply contract for three Citaro fuel cell buses was signed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (Beijing government) and Daimler AG using Ballard fuel cell technology in May 2004. The fuel cell buses began operation in revenue service in 2005 in Beijing and continue to operate today. Sustainable Transport Energy for Perth (STEP) Perth Fuel Cell Bus Trial The Perth, Australia program, consisting of three buses, commenced in 2004 and was so successful that operations were extended in 2006 for an additional year. Each bus operates more than eight hours per day, five days per week providing regular transit service. Cumulatively, these buses have traveled almost 200,000 kilometers and have operated in excess of 8,500 hours. Brazil Fuel Cell Bus Project Designed to stimulate the development and utilization of fuel cell buses in Brazil, the UNDP/GEF project identifies Ballard as the fuel cell supplier for up to five buses that will operate in San Paolo. Please read the press release (translated from its original in Portuguese) for more information. FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program FTA Demonstration Program In 2006, U.S. Federal Transit Administrator James Simpson announced a US$49 million Federal Transit Administration hydrogen fuel cell bus research and development program that intended to will explore ways to make commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell buses a reality. Ballard plans to participate in two FTA projects, utilizing our next generation heavy-duty fuel cell module (HD6), which leverages our latest automotive technology. In the first project, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will feature Ballard's 150 kW version of the HD6 module in two 40 foot fuel cell hybrid buses that will operate in revenue service in Washington DC. In the second project, GE Research will integrate Ballard's 80 kW version of the HD6 module into a lightweight fuel cell hybrid bus using an advanced propulsion system and a lightweight bus platform. The bus will operate in revenue service in upstate New York. BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Fleet BC Transit will deploy the world's first fleet of 20 fuel cell buses and hydrogen infrastructure to be integrated into the regular operational service of an urban transit system. This fleet operation will allow monitoring and evaluation of operations, maintenance and fueling over a sustained period. The delivery is divided into two phases: phase one is for delivery of one bus for evaluation in 2008; phase two is for delivery of up to 10 buses in 2009. The buses are intended to be showcased in the Resort Municipality of Whistler during the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics Winter Games, and then be integrated into the BC Transit fleet. BC Transit is to purchase the buses, with assistance from the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. Ballard is part of a consortium working on the BC Transit fuel cell fleet, with ISE Corporation supplying advanced electric drive and battery technology, and New Flyer Industries Canada ULC integrating both Ballard fuel cell module and the ISE electric drive into a transit bus platform. Automotive Market Demonstration Programs Ballard, as part of our commercialization process, participates in demonstration programs around the world, which showcase fuel cell technology. California Fuel Cell Partnership The California Fuel Cell Partnership is a collaboration of 31 organizations that believe fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen have the potential to change the future of transportation. Since 2000, members have placed 170 light duty vehicles in California and traveled more than 900,000 miles on California’s roads and highways. The latest vehicles to be powered by a Ballard fuel cell products include Daimler AG’s F-Cell and the Ford EDGE. Daimler AG F-Cell Fuel Cell Vehicle Demonstration Program To date, Daimler AG has placed 60 light-duty Mercedes-Benz A-Class fleet vehicles on the road in Germany, Japan, Singapore and the United States. In the US, UPS is delivering packages with its fleet of fuel cell Sprinter vans, powered by Ballard’s fuel cell stack technology. More than 100 fuel cell vehicles from Daimler AG are in operation all over the world – more vehicles than any other automaker. U.S. Department of Energy National Hydrogen Learning Demonstration Program In April 2004, DOE selected teams to participate in "learning demonstrations" that include testing, demonstrating, and validating hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure and vehicle and infrastructure interfaces for complete system solutions. Teams are led by automobile manufacturers or energy companies and are made up of hydrogen suppliers, fuel cell suppliers, utility or gas companies, fleet operators, system and component suppliers, small businesses, universities and government entities. Ballard’s fuel cell stacks power vehicles on teams lead by Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company. These demonstrations will assess the research program's progress toward meeting the goal of achieving a technology readiness milestone by 2015. Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program (VFCVP) The VFCVP is a five-year, CDN$9 million joint initiative between Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada, Ford Motor Company, the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia. This project is focused on testing five Ballard-powered Ford Focus fuel cell vehicles in real world conditions in British Columbia's lower mainland area, and is the first fleet demonstration of fuel cell vehicles in Canada. The program provides valuable information on performance, durability and reliability that will be applied towards the evolution of fuel cell vehicles to the commercial marketplace through the transition to a hydrogen economy. Under this program, Ballard operates its own fuel cell vehicle. Other vehicle users include BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, BC Transit, Government of BC, Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada and the National Research Council. |
||
