Ballard's Electric Drives and Power Conversion Division Introduces 80 kW High Speed Natural Gas Genset

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia--July 18, 2002-- Ballard Power Systems' Electric Drives & Power Conversion Division today introduced its first high-speed natural gas fueled generator set (Ecostar(TM) genset) capable of producing 80 kW for standby and back-up power applications. The Ecostar(TM) ES080-42N-S genset is based on the 4.2L Ford V6 natural gas engine and operates at double the speed of conventional gensets to produce nearly twice the power.
    By increasing the engine speed, Ballard has achieved the highest power density of any 80 kW genset. As a result, the Ecostar(TM) genset also has the lowest cost per kilowatt of any genset at this power level.
    "Ballard is offering a better environmental solution with this high power density, low emission Ecostar(TM) genset than is available from standard diesel genset manufacturers," said Ross Witschonke, Vice President and General Manager of Ballard's Electric Drives & Power Conversion Division.
    Ballard and Ford collaborated to increase the speed and endurance of the Ford 4.2L V6 natural gas engine and Ballard integrated this engine with the generator, electronics and control systems. The Ecostar(TM) genset provides the highest fuel-to-wire efficiency and lowest emissions of any genset primarily due to the Ford natural gas engine's efficiency (32%) and the Engine Performance Module that controls and optimizes engine performance continually.
    The brushless synchronous generator used in this genset can be configured to deliver three phase voltages, up to 480 volts, or single phase voltages, up to 240 volts. Eight distinct configurations enable the genset to serve both 60 Hz and 50 Hz applications at the voltages described above. The genset is available with a modem for full communications and diagnostics. The configuration is selected by the customer and set at the factory prior to final testing. Many performance features and options are also available to allow the customer to match an Ecostar genset to his specific needs.
    The list price of the ES080-42N-S is $15,700 with delivery in one to four weeks. Service and warranty are available from more than 500 authorized distributor service centers across the United States. Targeted markets include agricultural, light-industrial and large residential standby applications.
    This is the first in a family of Ecostar(TM) gensets that will cost effectively provide customers with enhanced performance, high power density and environmental profile.
    This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of Ballard's management and reflect Ballard's current expectations as contemplated under the Safe Harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this release, the words "estimate", "project", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may", "should", "will", the negative of these words or such other variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of Ballard with respect to future events based on currently available information and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements.
    Ballard Power Systems is recognized as the world leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission proton exchange membrane ("PEM") fuel cells. Ballard is commercializing fuel cell engines for transportation applications and fuel cell systems for portable and stationary products ranging from 1 kilowatt to 250 kilowatts. Ballard is also commercializing electric drives for fuel cell and battery-powered electric vehicles, power conversion products for fuel cells and other distributed generation products, and is a Tier 1 automotive supplier of friction materials for power train components. Ballard's proprietary technology is enabling automobile, bus, electrical equipment, portable power and stationary product manufacturers to develop environmentally clean products for sale. Ballard is partnering with strong, world-leading companies, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, EBARA, ALSTOM and FirstEnergy, to commercialize BALLARD(R) fuel cells. Ballard has supplied fuel cells to Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy, Coleman Powermate and Matsushita Electric Works, among others.
    Ballard's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BLD" and on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol "BLDP". Ballard, the Ballard logo and Power to Change the World are registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc. Ecostar is a trademark of Ballard Power Systems Corp.