Ballard receives new fuel cell engine order from CPKC

Ballard Power Systems has signed a long-term supply agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) for the supply of 98 fuel cell engines, each with a 200kW nameplate, totalling 20MW of power.

The engines, to be delivered in 2025, will support the expansion of CPKC’s hydrogen locomotive programme in North America.

The agreement extends the existing partnership between Ballard and CPKC, which began in 2021 and has already seen the successful integration of Ballard’s fuel cell engines into hydrogen-powered locomotives for switching and freight service in Alberta, Canada.

Up to the end of 2024, Ballard has delivered 10MW of fuel cell engines to CPKC.

In 2020, CPKC announced its initiative to design and build North America’s first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive.

This locomotive uses a combination of fuel cells and batteries to power the electric traction motors and emits only water vapour, contributing to a cleaner environment.