Ballard, WEG to develop fuel cell market in Brazil

Vancouver — Ballard Power Systems has signed a non-binding deal with WEG Industries of Brazil to develop the market for clean energy fuel cell products in the South American country. The companies said in a joint release late Tuesday they will work together to expand into new clean fuel sectors in Brazil _ from transportation to mining.

“We see the work with Ballard as consistent with our desire to ensure the smallest impact on the environment and, furthermore, we see potential for fuel cells ranging from public transit to mining and other critical power applications,” said Umberto Gabbato, managing director of WEG Automation.

WEG Industries has 24,000 employees and makes electric motors, generators, transformers, drives and coatings around the world.

The deal comes two months after Ballard announced the sale of 25 hydrogen fuel cell modules to power buses in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city.

Brazil is aiming to reduce vehicle tailpipe pollution as it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.

John Sheridan, Ballard’s president and CEO, called the WEG Industries deal, “an important enabler for increased fuel cell product traction in the fast-growing Brazil market. There are a number of important commercial applications that we will focus on and evaluate with WEG.”
© 2012 The Canadian Press