Ballard Power Systems Inc (C-BLD) - In the News

Van Sun sees Clark do early campaigning at Ballard JV

2011-03-18 06:11 PT - In the News
Shares issued 84,131,375
BLD Close 2011-03-17 C$ 2.02

The Vancouver Sun reports in its Friday edition that Mercedes Canada will make fuel cell stacks for its hydrogen fuel cell vehicles at a new $50-million plant in Burnaby. The Sun's Gerry Bellet writes the plant is expected to be in operation by 2013 and its production will be shipped to Germany for installation into a range of Mercs. The plant is the first of its kind worldwide and they expected to put fuel cell vehicles into commercial production by about 2016. Premier Christy Clark, who attended the company's announcement in Vancouver, thanked the company for choosing British Columbia, then pitched for votes. "Fifty million dollars will mean a lot of jobs and jobs help sustain families in every country in the world. We're delighted at this investment and the commitment to the economy of British Columbia. It is a day to celebrate the pioneering minds that dare to dream of cleaner, greener ways to create energy," said Ms. Clark. However, when asked how many jobs would be created, Herbert Kohler, chief environment officer of Daimler AG, said they would be in the "double digits" to begin with. German engineers would be assigned to the plant but lower-ranking staff would be hired locally.

v

Globe says Mercedes, Ballard push fuel cell R&D

2011-03-18 05:53 PT - In the News
Shares issued 84,131,375
BLD Close 2011-03-17 C$ 2.02

The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Mercedes-Benz is expanding its Canadian operations as part of its larger push in to the next generation of electric cars by setting up its own production of "fuel cell stacks" in a new plant slated for Burnaby, B.C. The Globe's Rita Trichur writes the carmaker is billing the move as a milestone toward its goal of selling pollution-free vehicles. A fuel cell stack is a key component in fuel-cell powered electric cars, which are more advanced than current battery-powered electric models that require constant recharging. The new plant will allow Mercedes-Benz to control the costs associated with researching and producing fuel cells through the economies of scale. It eventually plans to use the fuel cell stacks produced there in sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class. While fuel cell stacks come in a variety of sizes, the ones designed for cars are about the size of a large bread box and contain 408 fuel cells. In February, 2008, Daimler AG help found the Automotive Fuel Cell Co-operation. Daimler has a 50.1-per-cent interest in the joint venture, while Ford and Ballard Power Systems own 30 per cent and 19.9 per cent, respectively