Canadian fuel cell developer Ballard Power Systems has reached an agreement with Chinese firm Shanghai Fuel Cell Vehicle Powertrain to cooperate on the development of fuel cell vehicles.

The company said that is has signed a memorandum of understanding and fuel cell supply agreement, confirming that it will develop fuel cell cars for demonstration and field trial programmes planned in China during 2006 and 2007. 

Ballard will supply fuel cells and related services, while Powertrain will integrate those fuel cells into vehicles. 

The first result of the new tie-up will see Ballard supply up to 20 Mark 902 automotive fuel cells to its Chinese partner, which will be shipped later this year. 

Depending on the success of integrating the fuel cells into vehicles, Powertrain has the option of purchasing up to an additional 18 Mark 902 fuel cells for the programme in 2007.  

"We believe China could be a key market driving the commercialisation of automotive fuel cell technology and, as such, we are very pleased to announce this next step in our ongoing activities in China" said Noordin Nanji, Ballard's vice president and chief customer officer.

Fuel cells use platinum catalysts in order to produce the reaction that produces energy from the units.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd