Ballard & First Mode Sign Order for 30 Additional Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Diesel-free Mining Trucks

VANCOUVER, BC and SEATTLE, March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) (TSX: BLDP) and global carbon reduction company First Mode today announced a purchase order for Ballard to supply First Mode with 30 hydrogen fuel cell modules – totaling 3 megawatts – to power several hybrid hydrogen and battery ultra-class mining haul trucks. This is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 horsepower.

Ballard to power First Mode’s hybrid hydrogen and battery powertrain for ultra-class mining haul trucks (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.)

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Ballard to power First Mode’s hybrid hydrogen and battery powertrain for ultra-class mining haul trucks (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.)First Mode Logo (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.)

"Every one of the Ballard fuel cell modules that First Mode retrofits into an ultra-class haul truck means an immediate reduction in diesel fuel use and moving the mining industry another step closer to decarbonization," said Julian Soles, First Mode CEO. "We're excited to continue to innovate with Ballard. Utilizing hydrogen and battery technology in our nuGen™ systems allows our customers to achieve the best haul truck performance and range without sacrificing availability."

The 30 Ballard hydrogen fuel cell modules will be integrated into clean energy powerplants built in Seattle, Washington and installed into ultra-class haul trucks to be operated at First Mode's Proving Grounds in Centralia, Washington. These trucks are estimated to save 2,600 tons of diesel fuel each year.

"We are excited to expand our important collaboration with First Mode," said David Mucciacciaro, Ballard's Chief Commercial Officer. "The mining industry annually contributes up to 7% of the world's carbon emissions and roughly half of these emissions comes from mobile diesel applications, including haul trucks. Together with First Mode, we are continuing to demonstrate a viable pathway to decarbonize mining trucks by using Ballard's leading hydrogen fuel cells. These additional truck deployments highlight the opportunities ahead for fuel cell commercialization in hard-to-abate sectors."

First Mode is now working to scale production for the next generation of clean energy powerplants. In January 2023, First Mode entered into a global supply agreement with Anglo American to retrofit over 400 ultra-class haul trucks with First Mode's nuGen™ solution, including fuel cell and battery powerplant and related infrastructure. The Ballard fuel cells will be integrated into the next several powerplants built by First Mode.

First Mode and Ballard first partnered in 2019 to supply fuel cells for the world's first 2-megawatt hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery powerplant designed and built by First Mode in Seattle, Washington. The clean energy powerplant replaced a diesel engine on a 300-ton Komatsu 930E-4 ultra-class haul truck that is currently operating at Anglo American's Platinum Group Metals mine site in Mogalakwena, South Africa.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems' (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero-emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, and stationary power. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

About First Mode

First Mode is a global carbon reduction company developing creative, clean energy solutions for heavy industry's toughest problems. We started by removing the diesel engine from a colossal mining truck and replacing it with a hybrid hydrogen and battery powerplant. A world-first, and the world's largest. But we're not stopping there. We are also working on providing critical mine site infrastructure for hydrogen production, battery recharging, and hydrogen refueling. Today, we're starting at the source, the mining industry, and tomorrow the larger supply chain, to completely eliminate the use of diesel and speed the clean energy transition. www.firstmode.com

SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.