News

Ballard-Powered Fuel Cell Bus Begins Europe Tests

May 04, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

The customer and partner of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC< Canada), DaimlerChrysler Corp. (Detroit, MI), delivered the first zero-emission, Mercedes-Benz Citaro Bus powered with a Ballard® fuel cell engine to public transport authorities in Madrid, Spain, as part of the European Fuel Cell Bus Project. This is the first of 30 Citaro buses equipped with 205kW Ballard fuel cell engines that will be delivered over the next year to 10 different cities, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Porto, Rekjavik, Stockholm and Stuttgart. The fuel cell buses will be driven by regular transit bus drivers, carrying passengers in daily service in each city for a two-year field trial program.

"Thousands of people all across Europe will have the opportunity to experience first-hand, the clean, quiet and comfortable ride of these zero-emission buses," said Dennis Campbell, Ballard’s president and chief executive officer. "In addition to demonstrating the considerable advantages of fuel cell power for urban transit, the European Fuel Cell Bus Project provides a unique opportunity to showcase the diversity of solutions available for the production and delivery of hydrogen fuel. To fuel the 30 buses, 10 hydrogen refueling stations will be established, each producing hydrogen using a unique process, highlighting the flexibility available with hydrogen production. This is the start of the fuel cell and hydrogen revolution in Europe."