Ballard Power affiliate rolls out next-generation heavy-duty fuel cell engine

ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 4, 1999) — An affiliate of fuel-cell pioneer Ballard Power Systems rolled out a bus powered by a zero-emission fuel cell bus engine at the International Public Transportation Exposition in Orlando, Fla., last week.

The engine, built by dbb fuel cell engines inc., uses fuel cells from Ballard, the Vancouver-based leader in fuel cell research and development. dbb is a partnership between Ballard and DaimlerChrysler Corp.

Almost 4000 pounds lighter than its predecessor, the Phase 4 (P4) engine was designed using knowledge gained during in-service testing of buses using Phase 3 (P3) engines in Chicago and Vancouver, the company said. The 205kW(275 hp) P4 engine is less complex than the P3 and incorporates off-the-shelf components to make parts replacement more feasible.

“This Phase 4 engine marks a revolutionary change from our previous generation engine,” said Dr. Ferdinand Panik, president of dbb and head of DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell project. “It is now ready to go to bus manufacturers for the development and sale of zero-emission buses. We will begin full commercial production in 2002.”