VANCOUVER, CANADA and SHANGHAI, CHINA – During his current business trip to China, Mr. Randy MacEwen, Ballard President and CEO met with Mr. Chen Ming Bo, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization. Their meeting included discussion of the “Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Plan”, a ground-breaking Plan calling for the annual production of more than 15 billion RMB in annual output throughout Shanghai’s fuel cell value chain (more than $2.25 billion per year) by 2020.
The Plan was formulated by the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization and the Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission in response to the 13th 5-Year Plan for National Scientific and Technological Innovation and the 13th 5-Year Plan for Shanghai Scientific and Technological Innovation.
The Plan targets a number of key deliverables by 2020, including –
- 5-to-10 hydrogen fueling stations
- Annual production of 3,000 fuel cell electric vehicles
- Establishment of 2 fuel cell vehicle demonstration areas
- Active promotion of fuel cell buses, logistics vehicles and other vehicles in pilot areas
Beyond 2020 the Plan sets a number of additional development goals for Shanghai, including –
- By 2025, 100 billion RMB ($15 billion) in annual fuel cell value chain output, including annual production of at least 20,000 fuel cell electric passenger vehicles and 10,000 fuel cell electric commercial vehicles, along with the deployment of 50 hydrogen fueling stations
- By 2030, 300 billion RMB ($45 billion) in annual fuel cell value chain output
Jerry Yu, Ballard’s China Sales Manager based in Shanghai also attended the meeting and commented, “We are excited by the vision and leadership reflected in the Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Development Plan. The Plan represents a strong commitment to the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles in China’s largest city as an important measure to address air quality. Ballard is well positioned to be an important player in the execution of this milestone Plan.”
Mr. Chen led a delegation to visit Ballard’s head office in Vancouver in May 2017, as part of the preparations for the Plan.
As announced on February 16, 2017, Ballard signed a definitive agreement relating to technology transfer, licensing and supply arrangements with strategic partner Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Co., Ltd. for the assembly and sale of FCveloCity® 30-kilowatt (kW) and 85kW fuel cell engines in China. Under the deal, Broad-Ocean will manufacture fuel cell modules in three strategic regions in China, including Shanghai. Ballard is currently supporting Broad-Ocean’s subsidiary, Shanghai E-Drive, in setting up a final engine assembly facility in Shanghai, which is expected to be operational by year-end.
Shanghai is China’s largest city, with a population of more than 24 million people. The city is a global financial center and transport hub, with the world’s busiest container port. Shanghai has been described as the ‘showpiece’ of the booming economy of mainland China.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.