Ballard and MCV finalize multi-year agreement for 50 fuel cell engines

Ballard Power Systems has announced a multi-year supply agreement from Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (MCV), a bus and coach manufacturer based in Egypt, for 50 fuel cell engines totaling approximately 5MW.

Expanding from an initial technical collaboration centered on fuel cell engine integration support, the long-term service agreement (LTSA), which includes a preliminary order of 35 modules, illustrates the growing relationship between Ballard and MCV, which started in 2022. Completed delivery of the 50 engines - which will support a number of projects in Europe - is expected between 2025 and 2026.

MCV's zero-emission bus fleet will integrate Ballard's 100kW FCmove^®-HD+ fuel cell engine. Ballard's technology delivers superior performance and reliability, and the compact, durable, easy-to-install rooftop configuration provides an advanced decarbonized solution for medium- and heavy-duty mobility.

“We are delighted with this order and the continued engagement with MCV. In 2024 we took in 1,600 bus engines orders across seven OEMs, and this agreement continues the momentum into 2025. As the fuel cell bus market continues to mature, we look forward to the use of Ballard fuel cell engines to decarbonize public transit across the globe.”

Oben Uluc Vice President, Sales & Marketing Europe, Ballard

Initiating the partnership three years ago, MCV contracted Ballard to power its first fuel cell bus - a Class 2 model that integrated a 100kW FCmove^®-HD+ fuel cell engine, supported by a 80kWh battery. This specific design provided a decarbonized solution that offered high power, and the ability to cope with strenuous daily duty cycles that included highway routes and hilly areas with steep gradients to maneuver. 

Today, Ballard powers more than 1,800 fuel cell buses worldwide. The company's heavy-duty fuel cell engines have collectively logged over 200 million kilometers (125 million miles) of operational service; demonstrating a 99% availability rate and zero reported safety incidents, and offer an alternative to diesel engines without compromising on routes, capacity, availability, or refueling times.

MCV has been manufacturing commercial vehicles for the past 30 years, delivering coaches as well as transport, city, and special application buses to a broad range of markets and customer requirements.