Ballard Power will be a key investor in Forsee Power‘s planned IPO on Euronext Paris.
The two companies also announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop fuel cell and battery solutions.
Ballard Power and Forsee Power develop integrated solution
The partnership brings together two industry leaders to develop a fully integrated solution.
This is a fuel cell and battery system, optimized to meet the targeted needs of medium and heavy mobility (buses, trucks, trains).
This strategic partnership marks the start of a long-term collaboration involving the co-design, production and sale of fuel cells.
Ballard is a world leader, with over 100 million kilometers covered by more than 3,500 fuel cell electric buses and trucks.
Forsee Power is a world leader in batteries for light and heavy electric vehicles.
Optimizing the fuel cell-battery powertrain, to improve reliability, durability, efficiency and cost, is a logical next step.
Substantial technological improvements
Hydrogen-electric powertrains are made up of a number of key components.
The fuel cell module, powered by hydrogen stored in tanks on the vehicle, generates electricity which is supplied to the powertrain.
The batteries, charged by electricity from the fuel cell, generate additional power during sudden variations in load.
The fuel cell and battery systems are therefore complementary.
The vehicle can be powered by the fuel cell, the battery or both.
To ensure optimization and high efficiency between these components, a reliable and intelligent energy management system (EMS) is essential.
Ballard will supply the fuel cell system and associated controls.
Forsee Power will supply the battery, cooling and high-voltage conversion systems.
The parties will jointly develop the EMS to optimize the hybrid fuel cell and battery architecture.
Ballard invests in Forsee
As part of the strategic relationship, Ballard has agreed to participate as lead investor (up to 40 million euros) in Forsee’s planned IPO.
This commitment would enable the leader in fuel cell systems to acquire a stake in the leader in smart batteries at the time of its IPO on Euronext in Paris.
