UQM Technologies Inc. (Frederick, CO), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced that it has received an order from Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC, Canada) for additional fuel cell compressor drive motors. The new order is in addition to an earlier order received in January of this year. The company has been supplying its custom designed motors to Ballard since early 2001 for use in its fuel cell engines.
Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells manufactured by Ballard combine hydrogen fuel with oxygen from air to create electricity without combustion. A compressor driven by an electric motor powers and controls the delivery of compressed air within the fuel cell and consumes a portion of the electricity produced by the fuel cell. Improvements in the efficiency of fuel cell auxiliary systems improve the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell engine and the automobiles that are powered by them.
UQM Technologies President and Chief Executive Officer William Rankin said, "Ballard is a leader in the development of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells and this latest order reflects the success they are achieving in deploying their fuel cell engines worldwide. We are pleased to be a key component supplier to Ballard as they continue to grow the market for their fuel cell engines."
