Earlier in December, Ballard signed an equipment supply agreement with Van Hool NV, Europe’s fourth largest bus manufacturer, for 21 FCvelocity-HD6 fuel cell power modules. (Earlier post.)

Brazil’s National Plan on Climate Change is a set of inter-ministerial programs designed to cut emissions in the transportation, forestry, industrial and energy sectors. Under the plan the Brazilian government has committed to significant use of zero-emission transit technology. Initiatives will be implemented during the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games being held in that country, and beyond.

Sao Pãulo is Brazil’s largest city, generating significant emissions of particulate matter together with 3 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, 85% of which are created by vehicles. As a result, clean energy transportation is a high priority for the city, which has established a goal of reducing fossil fuel use within the bus fleet by at least 10% annually over the next several years.

Ballard’s sixth generation FCvelocity-HD6 fuel cell module features a control unit which interfaces with a system controller to make it a “plug-and-play” product for any fuel cell or hybrid fuel cell bus platform. The module also offers significant advances in durability, power density and fuel efficiency compared to earlier generation products.