California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO – The California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairman John D. Dunlap, III today announced its intention to take delivery of a 100 watt hydrogen-powered fuel cell demonstration unit.  The demonstrator, manufactured by Ballard Power Systems, will be displayed at ARB's headquarters in Sacramento, as well as other locations throughout the state.  An October delivery of the unit is anticipated.

         "Part of the Air Resources Board's mission is to advance the public health benefits and promise of clean, efficient energy," said Dunlap.  "Hydrogen-powered fuel cells, such as those featured in this unit, provide quiet, efficient, reliable power without emissions.  It's a technology who's time has come.  And it's particularly important that Californians, who have traditionally supported environmentally-responsible innovations, know as much as they can about a technology that will power their cars, or homes, or whole businesses and neighborhoods.  We look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship with clean energy technology companies like Ballard, as well as other fuel cell manufacturers."

        The announcement of ARB's intent to take delivery of this unit showcases the commitment of California and the Wilson Administration to advance cutting edge, zero- emission technologies with direct and tangible benefits to air quality.  The unit will be used primarily as a portable educational tool, powering a small TV/VCR, computer or another small appliance.  It will demonstrate the versatility and applicability of PEM fuel cell zero-emission technologies, not unlike those used in automotive applications by the Ford/Daimler-Benz/Ballard partnership.

         The Ballard unit is an extremely small device, approximately 11" by 6.3" by 4.6", and weighing only 10.6 lbs.  Fueled by hydrogen, the unit is emission-free.  The system includes a power module, an adapter for external fuel supply and a hydrogen (hydride) fuel cartridge.  It produces a peak of 100 watts of emission-free power at 12 volts direct current unregulated.  Future Ballard units will operate on other fuels such as natural gas, butane and propane with high efficiency and low-emission performance.

         On Tuesday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m., Cal/EPA Secretary for Environmental Protection Peter M. Rooney, and ARB Board Member Lynne Edgerton will participate in a round table discussion on the role of fuel cells in the future.  The meeting will be webcast online at: www.ballard.com.