Vancouver British Columbia - Ballard Power Systems will provide 18 additional hydrogen fuel cell engines to CPKC for expansion of their hydrogen locomotive program, Ballard announced today.
 
The 200-kilowatt engines are planned for delivery this year.
 
Specific details on CPKC's plans for their locomotive use were not immediately available.
 
Ballard has previously supplied 20 fuel cell engines to CPKC with a combined power of 4 megawatts for use in three types of locomotives that have been undergoing testing in 2022 and 2023.
 
Success of these tests, along with CPKC's efforts to reduce emissions, have led to expansion of the hydrogen program.
 
CPKC recently announced a plan to use hydrogen locomotives in coal train service, as well as a joint project with CSX Transportation to develop hydrogen conversion kits for diesel-electric locomotives.
 
"Our hydrogen locomotive program has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from locomotive operations, supporting the transition to a lower-carbon future in the freight rail sector. We are excited to expand development of these pioneering zero-emission locomotives with collaborators like Ballard," Dr. Kyle Mulligan, CPKC's assistant vice president, operations technology, said in a press release.
 
Seungsoo Jung, Ballard's vice president of rail and emerging markets, said the company is "thrilled to support our partner, CPKC, as it expands its development of fuel cell-powered locomotives to decarbonize critical transportation routes. Our teams have been working hand in hand to ensure success of this program and we are excited for the future with CPKC to help scale its growing hydrogen fleet."
 
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