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Audi, Ballard Extend Fuel Cell Pact
Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit has extended its fuel cell development contract with Canada’s Ballard Power Systems Inc. to August 2022.
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Volkswagen AG’s Audi unit has extended its fuel cell development contract with Canada’s Ballard Power Systems Inc. to August 2022.
The new contract is valued at between C$80 million and C$130 million ($62 million-$100 million). Under the program, Ballard will design and produce next-generation fuel cell systems for Audi demonstration vehicles and a “small series-production” launch the carmaker is planning.
The program involves fuel cell stack development and system design support. This includes the membrane electrode assembly, plate and stack components, plus testing and integration work.
Audi and VW have used previous Ballard fuel systems in three concept vehicles: the Golf SportWagen HyMotion, Passat HyMotion and Audi A7 Sportback H-tron Quattro. The H-tron Quattro (top) featured three 10,000-psi hydrogen tanks that provided an estimated driving range of 370 miles on the European cycle.
As part of the contract extension in 2015, VW also purchased $50 million worth of automotive fuel cell patents that Ballard had acquired from United Technologies Corp.
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