Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC) and the Precision Machinery Group of EBARA Corp. (Japan) and EBARA Research Co. Ltd. announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to develop pilot-scale manufacturing processes and equipment for Ballard's BAM® grafted proton-exchange membrane (PEM).
The agreement consists of an initial 18-month development period jointly funded by both parties. During this period, EBARA will construct and demonstrate its pilot-scale manufacturing capabilities for the BAM® grafted PEM. Ballard will validate the performance specifications of the membrane manufactured by EBARA through demonstration in Ballard fuel cell systems.
"This agreement builds upon our relationship with EBARA and provides us with another pathway to achieve our goals of performance, reliability and cost reduction," stated Ballard Chairman and CEO Firoz Rasul. "Ballard has developed significant experience and knowledge in its membrane development programs and is pleased to be moving another of its internally developed membrane technologies from the research and development stage to pilot-scale production."
