Ballard deploys initial group of fuel cell-powered buses in Guangdong, China

Canada’s Ballard Power Systems has commissioned and deployed an initial group of 12 fuel cell-powered buses in the District of Sanshui, in the City of Foshan, in the Province of Guangdong, China, marking the largest deployment of fuel cell buses in China’s history. Ballard Power Systems designs and manufactures clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs.

According to Randy MacEwen, Ballard’s President & CEO, the company’s plan to deploy 300 fuel cell-powered buses in Foshan/Yunfu was announced on September 2015.

“Our program consortium has made considerable progress over the past year, including localization of Ballard-designed fuel cell engines, establishment of a fuel cell bus manufacturing facility, local procurement activities, development of systems integration capabilities, national permitting of a fuel cell bus platform, preparations for hydrogen refueling infrastructure and development of our China service team,” he said.

Regarding the first installment of the zero-emission fuel cell buses in Foshan, MacEwen continued, “The Foshan and Yunfu governments are demonstrating strong vision and leadership by solving a growing need for mass urban transit while responsibly addressing local air quality and stimulating local economic development.”

The buses are 11 m in length and feature advanced safety systems, 80-person capacity, anticipated driving range in excess of 300 km, expected hydrogen gas consumption of less than 6.5 kg per 100 km, zero tailpipe emissions and remote monitoring. Unlike many battery electric bus routes, the transit route in Foshan will not require any catenary wires or on-route recharging.

Ballard’s program partners in China include:

• Guangdong Nation Synergy Hydrogen Power Technology Co. Ltd. (Synergy), providing 85 kW (kilowatt) fuel cell engines designed by Ballard;
• Foshan Feichi Bus (Feichi), manufacturer of the buses;
• Shanghai Reinventing Fire Technology Company Limited (Re-Fire), a leading Chinese fuel cell vehicle systems integrator that has integrated the fuel cell engines into the Feichi buses; and
• Zhangjiagang Furui Special Equipment Co., Ltd. (Furuise), a Chinese leader in liquefying, storage, transit and application of liquefied natural gas, including LNG and CNG vehicle gas filling stations and is expected to be the provider of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

The buses will be operated by Foshan Sanshui Guohong Public Transit Co. Ltd., on demonstration route #682 from Gaofeng Park Station to Shuidu Industrial Park Station. Xu Guo, Vice Mayor of the City of Foshan/Yunfu, said they are expecting additional routes to be commissioned in the coming months.