Ballard Power Systems announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Ford Trucks to supply the fuel cell system that will be used to produce a hydrogen fuel cell prototype vehicle.
Ballard will deliver two 120-kilowatt FCmove-XD fuel cell engines to Ford this year. The engines will be used to develop the F-Max fuel cell electric truck, a 44-ton long-haul tractor in Turkey. Ford plans to demonstrate the concept in 2025 as part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe Zero Emission Freight EcoSystem project.
When the project is completed, Ballard said, it could be selected as a preferred supplier for series production of the fuel cell-powered F-Max.
Four truck manufacturers and two trailers will take part in the European pilot project, as well as suppliers, logistics operators and researchers. The aim is to accelerate the integration of zero-emission vehicles into long-haul transport.
Nine different car concepts will enter the competition – four fuel cell and five battery electric.
“We are delighted to partner with Ford Trucks to facilitate market adoption in Europe. We look forward to validating Ballard as a preferred fuel cell supplier and supporting the integration of their heavy-duty truck platform,” said David Mocciachiaro, Ballard’s chief commercial officer. “Ford Trucks is a significant win for Ballard and a key partner for our high-growth truck segment. We are excited about their ambition to deploy F-Max fuel cell trucks at scale. Our FCmove-X is a great match for the range, fueling, payload and packaging requirements of our long-haul tractor customers.”
