Ballard Power Systems confirmed that, as per its press release of November 2, 2011, the Company successfully shipped 3 of its 150-kilowatt FCvelocityTM-HD6 fuel cell power modules to TuttoTrasporti (TUTTO) of Brazil in December 2011.
TUTTO, the largest Brazilian integrator of hybrid transit buses, will be deploying the modules in buses as part of a UNDP-EMTU (United Nations Development Programme - Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos) bus program. Under the program, United Nations funding is being provided to EMTU, which services the transportation needs of Sao Paulo, a city with a population of 11-million people. The new fuel cell-powered buses are expected to go into service in 2012.
In Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, 3-million tons of greenhouse gases are emitted annually, 85% coming from vehicles. As a result, clean energy transportation is a high priority under the country's National Plan on Climate Change.
Under Brazil's National Plan on Climate Change - a set of inter-ministerial programs designed to cut emissions in the transportation, forestry, industrial and energy sectors - the government has committed to significant use of zero-emission transit technology. Initiatives will be implemented during the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games being held in that country, and beyond.
Larry Stapleton, Ballard's Vice President of Sales said, "The UNDP-EMTU program is another important step toward a tipping point in the global volume of fuel cell bus orders. In combination with other recent announcements regarding growing fuel cell bus activities in North America, Europe as well as Brazil, 2012 will be a key year as we move toward fuel cell bus commercialization."
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD.TO - News) (NASDAQ: BLDP - News) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. Products are based on proprietary esencia™ technology, ensuring incomparable performance, durability and versatility. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.