Ballard Power Systems today reported that CRRC Qingdao Sifang Company recently announced the final contract with its customer for the planned deployment of eight (8) hydrogen fuel cell trams for a route being developed in the City of Foshan, China. All of these trams are to be powered by Ballard FCveloCity® fuel cell engines.

VANCOUVER, CANADA - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) today reported that CRRC Qingdao Sifang Company ("CSR Sifang") recently announced the final contract with its customer for the planned deployment of eight (8) hydrogen fuel cell trams for a route being developed in the City of Foshan, China. All of these trams are to be powered by Ballard FCveloCity® fuel cell engines.

CSR Sifang is a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer based in Qingdao, Shandong province. Established more than 100-years ago, CSR Sifang has a yearly production capacity of 200 high-speed electric multiple units (EMUs), 1,000 mass transit vehicles and 300 high-grade passenger cars. An initial demonstration of a fuel cell-powered tram, using Ballard technology, was successfully completed by CSR Sifang in March 2015.

In that same year Ballard announced we had signed a joint development agreement and a supply agreement with CSR Sifang to develop and commercialize a fuel cell engine specifically designed for integration into that companys low floor trams. The agreements included 2016 delivery of ten (10) customized FCveloCity® modules.

At the same time, Ballard also announced our plan to develop a new prototype configuration of the FCveloCity® fuel cell module to deliver 200 kilowatts (kW) of net power for use in powering trams in urban deployments, including the initial deployment of 8 fuel cell-powered trams on the Gaoming Line in the City of Foshan.

Dr. Kevin Colbow, Ballard Vice President - Technology and Product Development said, "We have worked very closely with CSR Sifang over the past 18-months on the development of a 200 kilowatt fuel cell solution for light rail applications. We expect our collaboration with CSR Sifang will lead to the worlds first commercial deployment of a fuel cell-powered tram line, which should open opportunities globally."

Each of the fuel cell trams on the Gaoming Line will have a capacity of 285 passengers and a maximum speed of 70 km/hour. The Gaoming Line will be 17.4 kilometers long, with 20 stops. In addition to delivering strong operating performance, the fuel cell trams will have a longer range and be more environmentally-friendly than traditional trams.

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 their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.


Further Information: Guy McAree +1.604.412.7919, media@ballard.com or investors@ballard.com