Ballard Power Systems Unveils FCmove-SC Fuel Cell Module for Urban Transit Buses.

Ballard Power Systems will unveil its new FCmove-SC fuel cell module at Busworld in Brussels. Designed for urban transportation, the module is based on Ballard's market-leading FCmove series and offers improved sustained power, simplified vehicle integration, better in-service performance, and a lower lifecycle cost. The FCmove-SC is part of Ballard's roadmap to diesel parity.

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP) will debut its next-generation transit fuel cell module, the FCmove-SC, at Busworld in Brussels this October. Designed for city buses, the module offers enhanced power, easier integration, improved performance, and lower costs, aligning with Ballard’s push toward diesel parity.

The FCmove-SC module features several advancements over its predecessors. These include a 30% increase in system power (end-of-life) with improved durability, operating and freeze-start temperatures, and higher power density. The module also boasts a 25% increase in volumetric power density through integrated DC/DC packaging, a 25% higher maximum radiator outlet temperature, and a 40% reduction in total part count. These enhancements aim to simplify vehicle integration and reduce diagnostics and preventive maintenance requirements.

Kevin Colbow, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Ballard, commented on the new module, stating, "The FCmove-SC is the latest product on Ballard's new core product platform which anchors broader advances targeting the industry's core challenge: narrowing the gap in cost of ownership parity with legacy diesel systems."

The FCmove-SC targets a peak power capability of at least 75 kW, optimized for consistent in-service output and higher thermal margins for improved efficiency. This design supports smaller cooling requirements and provides more usable waste heat for cabin heating, intended to reduce operating costs and enable competitive total cost of ownership versus legacy diesel systems.

Ballard is also upgrading its fleet services to pair the FCmove-SC with predictive maintenance and analytics. Onboard communications and Ballard's FCServiceCloud Customer Insight portal enable preventive and predictive maintenance workflows, helping operators maximize uptime and lower lifecycle support costs.

Enhanced safety is central to the FCmove-SC architecture, which introduces industry-leading safety features. The PEM stack enclosure incorporates a new internal geometry that inhibits hydrogen-related risks, reducing dependence on conventional active safety features.

The new FCmove-SC draws on Ballard's extensive on-road experience. In Europe, Ballard has deployed more than 850 vehicles across cities, with the FCmove-HD module successfully operated over nearly a hundred million service kilometers.

Ballard will exhibit the FCmove-SC and other transit solutions in Hall 9, Stand 579 at Busworld at the Brussels Expo, 4–9 October. Demonstrations are by invitation; transit operators and OEMs interested in scheduling should contact Ballard's marketing team.