Ballard supplies 60 fuel cells to First Mode for zero-emission mining trucks

Ballard Power Systems has announced a purchase order to supply global carbon reduction company First Mode with 60 hydrogen fuel cell modules – totaling 6 megawatts – for delivery in 2024. The order represents an expansion of the relationship, following an order of 35 FCmove modules year-to-date in 2023, to power hybrid hydrogen and battery ultra-class mining haul trucks.

”The combination of hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology has proven itself as a viable zero-emission alternative to diesel in mine haulage,” said Julian Soles, CEO, First Mode. “We are excited to continue our partnership with Ballard to help our customers achieve their emission targets without sacrificing performance.”

Ultra-class haul trucks have high payload and energy requirements, while also needing to meet high uptime metrics to maintain existing operating practices. Ballard’s fuel cell modules integrated into First Mode’s nuGen™ solution deliver the duty cycle performance mining operators require.

First Mode is working to scale production for the next generation of the nuGen™ solution, including fuel cell and battery powerplant and related infrastructure. The company has begun integrating Ballard’s fuel cells from the previously announced orders and will continue to bring an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles to the field with this latest order. The engines will be demonstrated at First Mode’s Proving Grounds in Centralia, Washington, U.S. starting in 2024.