VANCOUVER and SOUTHBOROUGH, MA, June
5, 2018 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX:
BLDP) today announced that the Company's subsidiary, Protonex, has
received purchase orders from the U.S. Navy for a total of 13 fuel
cell propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone
platforms. Deliveries of the fuel cell propulsion systems are
expected to occur in 2018.
Protonex has supplied proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell
propulsion systems for the successful Ion Tiger fuel cell powered
UAV program, and is now providing a variant of its 600 watt PEM
fuel cell propulsion system for the subsequent Hybrid Tiger UAV
program. This continues a productive relationship with the U.S.
Navy that began in 2006.
Phil Robinson, Protonex Vice
President of Unmanned Systems said, "We have been working with the
U.S. Navy for a decade to optimize our fuel cell propulsion system
and deliver key benefits, including long range, quiet operation,
high reliability, minimal vibration and low maintenance. It is
exciting to put our innovative design to the ultimate test in
rigorous operating conditions with an important customer."
The Hybrid Tiger UAV was designed by the U.S. Naval Research
Laboratory (NRL) to explore new power system technologies for UAV
propulsion. High efficiency fuel cells from Protonex, in
combination with other technologies, are expected to enable greater
endurance than the 26 hours demonstrated by Ion Tiger in 2009.
Through this program, Protonex is providing a key technology to
advance the Navy's unmanned system performance goals.
Protonex fuel cell UAV propulsion systems are used by the U.S.
Department of Defense to enhance flight duration and range, while
minimizing audible noise. The rugged and reliable systems are
designed to operate in all types of environments and at high
altitudes, enabling deployments in exacting missions worldwide. The
Protonex FCair™ line of commercial UAV power systems builds on this
defense heritage for applications in such areas as agriculture,
asset inspection, surveillance, and search & rescue.
For additional information please visit
http://www.ballard.com/markets/uav.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that
reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve
difficult technical and business challenges in power and energy. To
learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
anticipated product performance, customer benefits and market
demand for our products. These forward-looking statements reflect
Ballard's current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any such
forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's assumptions
relating to its financial forecasts and expectations regarding its
product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market
demand.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause
Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including
general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on
third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and
achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion
of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future
performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual
Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on
Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no
obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward
looking statements, other than as required under applicable
legislation.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The Ballard
Common Shares have not been registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any
other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.