Ballard Power Systems received an order for 2.4 MW of additional fuel cell systems from Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). These twelve, 200 kW fuel cell engines are planned for delivery in 2023 and will support the development of CPKC’s additional hydrogen-powered locomotives planned for regular switching and local freight service applications in Alberta.

The additional locomotives will be partially funded through the Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) program that helps the province deliver on its environmental and economic goals and will in turn support the decarbonization of rail transport by funding hydrogen production and refueling infrastructure along with hydrogen-powered locomotives.

Over the past two years, Ballard has supplied CPKC with 38 fuel cell engines for use in its hydrogen locomotives, with combined fuel cell power of 7.6 MW. The additional locomotives are expected to enter service in late 2024.

Our hydrogen locomotive program demonstrates our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we are pleased to continue to work with the team at Ballard to implement effective alternative fuel solutions.

—Dr. Kyle Mulligan, CPKC AVP Operations Technology

This latest order demonstrates CPKC’s continued progress against this vision and plan, while also serving as another proof point for the enabling role of Ballard’s fuel cell engines in the electrification of locomotive rail applications in North America.

—Seungsoo Jung, Ballard’s Vice President of Rail & Emerging Markets

CPKC, established 14 April 2023, is the combination of two historic railways: Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS). CPKC is the first and only transnational rail network in North America.

Founded in 1881, Canadian Pacific Railway was formed to unite Canada from coast to coast and grew to reach the US Midwest and beyond with direct links to major ports on the west and east coasts. Established in 1887, Kansas City Southern began as a belt railroad in Kansas City, Mo. and grew to become a vital north-south rail link providing customers with cross-border service between the US and Mexico.