VANCOUVER, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power
Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today announced that the Company
has collaborated with Nisshinbo Holdings ("Nisshinbo";
www.nisshinbo.co.jp/english/), an Environmental and Energy company,
to develop a Non Precious Metal Catalyst (NPMC) for use in the
world's first commercialized NPMC-based proton exchange membrane
(PEM) fuel cell product. Nisshinbo and Ballard have jointly
collaborated on the development of NPMC since 2013.
Ballard has successfully incorporated the Non Precious Metal
Catalyst into a high performing catalyst layer under a Technology
Solutions program and plans to launch a new 30-watt
FCgen®-1040 fuel cell stack product incorporating NPMC
for commercial use in late-2017.
The NPMC-based FCgen®-1040 fuel cell stack will be a
variant of Ballard's FCgen®-micro fuel cell stack,
derived from the Company's air-cooled fuel cell technology designed
for integration into ultra lightweight applications.
"We are delighted that this collaboration with Nisshinbo has
enabled the development of an innovative breakthrough technology to
reduce the amount of platinum in an air-cooled fuel cell stack by
more than 80%," said Dr. Kevin
Colbow, Ballard's Vice President – Technology and Product
Development. "The NPMC-based FCgen®-1040 stack
represents a step-change in PEM fuel cell technology with high
performance at a reduced cost. Since platinum contributes 10-to-15%
of the cost of a fuel cell stack today, we are very excited about
the potential cost savings NPMC technology can enable moving
forward."
Dr. Colbow continued, "Based on the success of this program and
the step-change in PEM fuel cell technology represented by the new
Non Precious Metal Catalyst, we are interested in exploring its use
for various commercial applications. The work done to date
represents an important part of our Japan strategy where we are focused on
breakthrough technology development with select Japanese partners
as well as penetration into the Japanese hydrogen economy with
strategic channel partners in key applications."
In a PEM fuel cell, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is
formed by placing a catalyst-coated membrane between two gas
diffusion layers where, until now, the catalyst has been precious
platinum metal. When hydrogen gas flows across one side of the MEA
and oxygen flows across the other side, an electrochemical
(non-combustion) reaction occurs, splitting hydrogen into protons
and electrons with the electrons captured as electricity. Combining
fuel cells together to form multi-layer stacks increases the amount
of electricity that can be produced.
The amount of platinum catalyst-coated material used in fuel
cells, known as platinum loading, has been successfully reduced
over time. Nisshinbo's Non Precious Metal Catalyst is based on a
carbon alloy material which further reduces the cost of an
air-cooled fuel cell stack.
Ballard and Nisshinbo jointly presented a paper entitled
"Non-Precious Metal Catalysts: Cathode Catalyst Layer Design
Considerations for High Performance and Stability" at the SSI-21
Conference held in Padua, Italy in
June 2017. The presentation was
shortlisted to receive the ISE Best Oral Presentation Award for its
work showing the highest ever reported performance for a NPMC-based
PEM fuel cell and the comparison to performance of a PEM fuel cell
using a platinum catalyst.
Nisshinbo is an "Environmental and Energy Company" Group
providing low-carbon, optimized products across a range of business
lines, including chemicals, precision instruments, electronics,
automotive brakes and textiles. Nisshinbo has been a long-time
leading global supplier of carbon plates used in the construction
of PEM fuel cells for various market applications. Nisshinbo has
been a strategic supplier of compression molded bipolar flow field
carbon plates to Ballard for over 20 years. In November 2015, Nisshinbo also became a strategic
equity investor in Ballard.
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.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
anticipated development results and impacts on our products. These
forward-looking statements reflect Ballard's current expectations
as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's
assumptions relating to its financial forecasts and expectations
regarding its product development efforts, manufacturing capacity,
and market demand.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause
Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including
general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on
third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and
achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion
of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future
performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual
Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on
Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no
obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward
looking statements, other than as required under applicable
legislation.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The Ballard
Common Shares have not been registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any
other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.
SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.