Ballard Power Systems took another step toward bringing its automotive fuel cell to market after signing a deal to work with QuestAir Technologies.
Under the terms of the deal, Ballard will buy a 10% stake in QuestAir, valued at about $16.7 million, in exchange for complete access to QuestAir's technology.
Ballard will also combine its proton exchange membrane fuel cell with QuestAir's oxygen enrichment product. Ballard said in a release that it hopes combining the two technologies will help speed its fuel cell to a full-scale market rollout. Ballard also said that combining the two technologies would reduce the Ballard product's size and weight.
QuestAir's product acts as a hydrogen purification system, removing impurities from the hydrogen generated while an engine is running or idling.
Burnaby, B.C.-based Ballard Power Systems is working with DaimlerChrysler and Ford to bring its fuel cells into the commercial market. The company has worked with Honda, Volkswagen and Yamaha in the past.
