Skip to main content

Ballard and Siemens sign $9 million agreement on fuel cell engine train

Ballard Power Systems (BPS) has announced it has signed a development agreement with Siemens, with a contemplated value of $9 million (£6.8 million), to develop a zero-emission fuel cell engine to power Siemens’ Mireo light rail train in Germany. Initial deployments of the train are planned for 2021. BPS will develop a 200-kilowatt fuel cell engine for integration into the new train platform which aims to reach speeds of up to 160 km per hour (100 miles per hour). Sabrina Soussan, chief executive officer
November 16, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Ballard Power Systems (BPS) has announced it has signed a development agreement with 189 Siemens, with a contemplated value of $9 million (£6.8 million), to develop a zero-emission fuel cell engine to power Siemens’ Mireo light rail train in Germany. Initial deployments of the train are planned for 2021.
 
BPS will develop a 200-kilowatt fuel cell engine for integration into the new train platform which aims to reach speeds of up to 160 km per hour (100 miles per hour).

Sabrina Soussan, chief executive officer of the Mobility Division at Siemens said, "Our cooperation with Ballard is a decisive step towards replacing diesel-powered rail vehicles with emissions-free vehicles in the long-term interests of sustainable and climate-friendly mobility. We want to be able to offer our customers flexible train solutions for various suburban routes, which vary according to regional conditions and technical possibilities."

Randy MacEwen, BPS president and chief executive officer added, "We are seeing rapid market demand growing for clean energy fuel cell technology in a range of Heavy Duty Motive applications, including trains, trams, transit buses and commercial trucks. This Development Agreement with Siemens, a major industrial conglomerate and leading global train OEM, is a testament to the overall value proposition offered by Ballard's fuel cell technology in a demanding use case and duty cycle. In this application, fuel cells enable electrification with range, without the need for costly catenary wire infrastructure." 

Related Content

  • December 19, 2016
    Confusion over electric motors for heavy trucks
    According to Dr Peter Harrop of research company IDTechEx, there is still no agreement on the best type of electric motor to use in heavy trucks. The company’s analysis indicates that the booming, confusing traction motor business will rise to around US$400 billion in 2027. Its new report, Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2017-2027 navigates the jargon, the design options and the disagreements. The changing needs and evolving technology are matched to create forecasts and technology timelines based
  • November 15, 2017
    True Zero expands hydrogen network through California Energy Commission grants
    The California Energy Commission has provided True Zero (TZ) with $26.6 million (£20.2 million) to install 12 new hydrogen stations to help build out the state’s retail hydrogen network. The funding includes grants for capital cost share and operation and maintenance support. In August, TZ opened its 18th retail hydrogen station in California and is now developing 13 additional stations. Joel Ewanick, chief executive officer of TZ, said: "With these 12 new stations you'll see a transition to higher
  • May 8, 2018
    Ballard to deploy 40 fuel cell modules to power buses in Germany
    Ballard Power Systems will deploy 40 FCveloCity-HD fuel cell modules to power buses as part of the Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Across Europe (JIVE) funding programme. The transaction stems from an order placed by bus manufacturer Van Hool in Belgium. Initial shipments of the modules are expected later this year. Van Hool plans to deploy 30 buses in Germany with the Regionalverkehr Köln transit agency in Cologne, and the remaining ten buses with WSW Mobil in Wuppertal. The JIVE projects are intended to
  • December 10, 2015
    New York City joins San Francisco and Oakland in greenhouse gas reduction
    In the light of the COP21 Paris Climate Conference, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has announced a major initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the city’s large fleet of light duty and heavy duty vehicles. To meet its goals, the initiative relies heavily on new technology diesel engines and bio-based diesel fuels. Following in the footsteps of San Francisco and Oakland, California, New York City is seeking to require the use of renewable diesel fuel. Earlier this year, San Francisco