Ma Songde, Vice Minister of China Science and Technology Ministry welcome the Canada Ballard company visit on 19 May 2005. Vice general director, Charles Stone introduced the generational FC performance and development tendency. Ballard representative considered that it is real to become commercialization in China regarding the largely potential market. The main objectives of visit purposed to look for collaboration opportunity with China, and hope to set up sustainable cooperation.

    Ma Songda introduced the implementation of China electric vehicle project and demonstration for FCB project, while presented thanks for Ballard support in technology and cooperation.

    As the first company who researches FC technology development, Ballard is the most competitive FC maker in global. Ballard achieved significant improvements in three key fuel cell stack performance metrics – in a single stack design: (1) Cost reduction: reduced platinum loading to 0.7mg/cm2 from 1mg/cm2; (2) Freeze start: performed multiple freeze start from –20oC; (3) Durability: demonstrated stack lifetime of more than 2,000 hour. In May 2005 Ballard announced:

     fuel cell stack cost will be reduced to 30USD/KW in 2010 from 60USD/KW in 2007;

     durability will be improved to 5,000 hours in 2010 from 3,200 hours in 2007;

     start-up time to 50% maximum power is 100 seconds at -20°C in 2005 and 25 seconds at -30°C in 2010;

     stack power density reach 2500 watts/liter in 2010.