Ballard and DaimlerChrysler Unveil Direct Methanol Fuel
Cell Demonstration Vehicle
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--NOVEMBER 9, 2000 - 08:00 EST
Ballard Power Systems Inc. announced
today that DaimlerChrysler demonstrated a Ballard Direct Methanol
Fuel Cell (DMFC) prototype at DaimlerChrysler's Innovation
Symposium in Stuttgart, Germany. The fuel cell was used to power a
small one-person demonstration vehicle. DMFC is proton exchange
membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology that permits the use of
methanol as fuel without requiring a fuel processor to extract
hydrogen from the methanol.
"Ballard is leading in the development of all aspects of proton
exchange membrane fuel cell technology, including direct methanol
fuel cells," said Dr. Alfred Steck, Ballard's Vice-President and
Chief Technology Officer. "We are now beginning to refine direct
methanol technology for use outside the laboratory in applications
ranging from portable and stationary power to transportation. With
this demonstration, Ballard has achieved another one of its stated
goals for 2000."
The three-kilowatt system is the result of an ongoing
collaboration between the research groups of DaimlerChrysler and
Ballard.
This demonstration follows DaimlerChrysler's public unveiling on
November 7, 2000 of the NECAR 5 prototype automobile in Berlin,
Germany. The NECAR 5 utilizes methanol as a fuel with an advanced
fuel processor and system developed by XCELLSIS GmbH to supply
hydrogen to a Ballard Mark 900 fuel cell. The fuel cell powers a
Mercedes A Class automobile, with five passengers and their
luggage, to over 90 miles per hour (150 km/h). XCELLSIS is a
jointly held company of DaimlerChrysler, Ford and Ballard.
Ballard Power Systems is recognized as the world leader in
developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission proton
exchange membrane fuel cells for use in transportation,
electricity generation and portable power products. Ballard Power
Systems' proprietary fuel cell technology is enabling automobile,
electrical equipment and portable power product manufacturers to
develop environmentally clean products for sale. The fundamental
component of these end-user products is the Ballard(R)fuel cell
that combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol,
natural gas or petroleum) and oxygen (from air) without combustion
to generate electricity. Ballard is partnering with strong,
world-leading companies, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GPU
International, ALSTOM and EBARA, to commercialize Ballard fuel
cells. Ballard has also supplied fuel cells to Honda, Nissan,
Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy, Coleman Powermate and Matsushita
Electric Works, among others.
Ballard's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange
under the trading symbol "BLD" and on the Nasdaq National Market
System under the symbol "BLDP". Ballard and the Ballard logo are
registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc. |
