Ballard Power Systems Electric Drives and Power Conversion Division signed a joint development agreement with Ford Power Products, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company, to jointly develop commercial power generation products.
Ballard and Ford Power Products, supplier of engines, transmissions and components to original equipment manufacturers, will jointly develop products driven by spark-ignited combustion engines for the generator market. Other opportunities exist for on-road hybrid applications, such as commercial trucks and buses, where the powertrain provides power to electric drive motors, batteries and other equipment.
The main application for the Ballard/FPP powertrain is the electrical power generation market (i.e. generator sets). Most often, generator sets are used when power from the electrical distribution grid is not available. This new alternative in power generation has many advantages to the end user, including increased power, lower costs per kilowatt and reduced emissions.
