Ballard Power Systems Commissions Initial Manufacturing Facility.

Ballard Power Systems said that it has commissioned its initial fuel cell manufacturing facility, Plant 1. "The capacity of this facility will allow us to meet the requirements of our customers as we introduce initial commercial products in each of our target markets, starting in 2001," said

Plant 1 is a 9,900-square-meter (110,000 sq. ft.) facility located adjacent to Ballard's corporate headquarters in Burnaby, B.C. Construction was completed in October 1999 and the building was officially opened by Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, in October 2000. During the past year equipment has been installed and commissioned for volume manufacturing of fuel cells. Plant 1 is currently meeting Ballard's immediate production requirements for fuel cells for portable power and automotive applications.

Ballard Power Systems is recognized as the world leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission proton exchange membrane fuel cells for use in transportation, electricity generation and portable power products. Ballard Power Systems' proprietary fuel cell technology is enabling automobile, electrical equipment and portable power product manufacturers to develop environmentally clean products for sale.

The fundamental component of these end-user products is the Ballard fuel cell that combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas, petroleum or renewable sources) and oxygen (from air) without combustion to generate electricity.

Ballard is partnering with companies such as DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GPU International, ALSTOM and EBARA, to commercialize Ballard fuel cells. Ballard has also supplied fuel cells to Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy, Coleman Powermate and Matsushita Electric Works, among others.