Ballard Power
Systems has signed an equipment supply agreement with Van Hool
NV, Europe’s fourth largest bus manufacturer, for 21 of the
company’s latest-generation
FCvelocity^TM-HD6 fuel cell power
modules.

The 21 FCvelocity^TM-HD6 modules will
power zero-emission buses to be deployed in several European
cities, which will be named following completion of the associated
contracts between Van Hool and public transit authorities in these
cities. It is expected that the majority of the modules will be
shipped in 2012.

Van Hool is a Belgian-based independent bus, coach and
industrial vehicle OEM with a long history of innovation in bus
manufacturing. The company previously engineered and produced five
hybrid fuel cell buses, using Ballard power modules, for deployment
in Oslo, Norway.

Mr. Leopold Van Hool, Managing Director of the company said, “We
are very pleased to be utilizing Ballard fuel cell modules,
building on its proven track record of reliability and durability.
These modules are compact and offer integration flexibility, while
delivering the high performance required for heavy duty city buses.
Ballard’s commitment to the European fuel cell bus market is second
to none.”

These bus deployments are being supported by European Joint
Technology Initiative (JTI) funding provided under the Fuel Cells
and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) program, which is a part of
Europe’s Sustainable Energy Technology (SET) Plan. The SET Plan
provides a framework to accelerate development and deployment of
cost-effective low carbon and zero-emission technologies.

John Sheridan, Ballard’s President and CEO added, “This
agreement represents an important step toward fuel cell bus
commercialization and strengthens our position with Van Hool in the
fuel cell bus market. Moreover, it is a strong indicator of
positive growth potential for clean fuel cell-powered buses within
the larger global transit marketplace.”

Ballard’s sixth generation
FCvelocity^TM-HD6 fuel cell module features
a control unit which interfaces with a system controller to make
this a “plug-and-play” product for any fuel cell or hybrid fuel
cell bus platform.

The module also offers significant advances in durability, power
density and fuel efficiency compared to earlier generation
products. Ballard has actively participated in previous successful
European fuel cell hybrid bus field tests, including the CUTE
(Clean Urban Transport for Europe) and HyFLEET:CUTE projects.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean
energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a
range of applications. Products are based on proprietary esencia(tm)
technology, ensuring incomparable performance, durability and
versatility. To learn more about Ballard, visit href=”http://www.ballard.com/”
target=”_blank”>www.ballard.com