Ballard Power Systems and global carbon reduction company First Mode today announced a purchase order for Ballard to supply First Mode with 60 hydrogen fuel cell modules – totalling 6 MW – for delivery in 2024. The order represents an expansion of the relationship, following the order of 35 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 at 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.

“We are thrilled to support our partner First Mode as they scale the deployment of their mining haul truck platform,” said David Mucciacciaro, Ballard’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Amongst our verticals, mining-haul trucks represent one of the most difficult to decarbonise use cases, and therefore one of the most attractive segments for our fuel cell products. We look forward to further demonstrating the value-proposition of our products in heavy-duty applications as additional First Mode vehicles enter service.”

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