The reference to Ford by our CEO on a recent video has jogged my memory.  It all relates to the March 29, 2016 Zen release pertaining to Ballard Powers fourth phase testing of Albany graphite.  The testing proved to be successful, but it is important to note that the graphite being used was only run-of-the-lab material with no special processing or customization.   It is also important to note what companies joined together to form the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation (AFCC).   The AFCC was a Canadian company.  The initial ownership of AFCC was made up of Daimler (51%), Ford Motor Company (30%) and Ballard Power (19%).    I must admit, the past relationship between all these companies makes me wonder whose grapheme they will be using in the future.

Below are some of the things that come to mind....

Zen, Ford (AFCC), and Ballard have all used UBC in regard to graphite/graphene research.

Ballard tested Zen graphite successfully for fuel cell technology. (Zen release March 29, 2016).

https://www.zengraphene.com/zenyatta-ballard-power-systems-achieve-success-on-performance-testing-using-natural-albany-graphite-versus-synthetic-graphite-in-a-fuel-cell-stack/

At that time, Ford (AFCC) occupied 11,000 sq. ft. within Ballard’s headquarters in Burnaby, B.C. for research purposes.

Ballard purchased the equipment Ford (AFCC) left behind when they moved their operations in 2018 to the U.S. and Germany.

Below is from the UBC site,

SPOTLIGHT ON: ADVANCED MATERIALS

In their labs and with their partner institutes and industries, UBC researchers are at the leading edge of a global materials revolution that is transforming electronics, communications, alternative energy, medicine and more.

Our researchers are creating the world’s lightest and strongest composite materials and metals. They are developing nanomaterials capable of everything from diagnosing illnesses to cleaning up the environment. 

And they are designing materials for previously unimaginable products such as portable MRI machines and even levitating cars.

FAST FACTS + MILESTONES

2015 UBC Quantum Matter Institute a first recipient of Canada First Research Excellence Fund MORE 

2013 UBC researchers publish possible secret to superconductivity in Science MORE 

2012 UBC becomes host institution for new Composites Research Network MORE

2010 Max Planck-UBC Centre for Quantum Materials opens, one of only three Max Planck institutions in the world  MORE