Audi says it has acquired a package of patents relating to fuel-cell technology from Ballard Power Systems. In addition, the Volkswagen Group has extended its cooperation with Ballard until 2019.

Audi maintains that the purchase of these patents will provide “new impetus for the development of [hydrogen] fuel-cell drive systems at Audi, VW and the Volkswagen Group”.

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Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at Audi stressed the significance of the purchases to the VW Group. “Audi is acquiring these strategically important patents for the entire group and will make them available to all the brands,” he said.

“In this way, we are securing crucial expertise that will provide new impetus for the further development of this technology.”

Ballard Power Systems Inc. is based in Burnaby, Canada, and is considered one of the world’s leading companies in the technology of proton exchange membrane fuel-cells.

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