Ballard Announces Change in Senior Management.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1999--

Ballard Power (Nasdaq:BLDP) (TSE:BLD.) Ballard Power Systems announced today that Mr. Michael Graydon is leaving the Company.

Mr. Graydon joined Ballard in November 1998 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. During his 11 months at Ballard, Michael focused on internal accounting, financial management and administrative activities. Pending the selection of a successor, Paul Lancaster, Ballard's Vice President, Corporate Development, has been appointed acting Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Lancaster was acting Chief Financial Officer before Mr. Graydon's appointment and during the nine years he has been with Ballard he also served as the Company's Treasurer and Controller. In addition, Noordin Nanji, Ballard's Vice President, Corporate Affairs, will assume the administrative responsibilities that Mr. Graydon held. Prior to Mr. Nanji joining Ballard in 1998, he served as the Company's lead outside counsel for six years and was instrumental in negotiating the strategic partnerships with key shareholders, customers and suppliers. Shareholder relationships, capital markets, strategic relationships and transactions have been, and will remain, the responsibilities of Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Nanji.

Firoz Rasul, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "As Ballard advances in its development, the responsibilities of Ballard's Chief Financial Officer also evolve. As that process unfolded over the past few months, Kip Smith, our President and Chief Operating Officer, and I discussed with Michael the Company's requirements and we collectively agreed that Michael's aspirations did not match the Company's needs. As a result, Michael will pursue other opportunities. We thank him for his contribution and wish him well in his future endeavors. While we are searching for a successor, Kip and I are confident that with the strength of our team, led by Paul and Noordin, our financial, accounting, and administrative groups will operate without disruption."

Ballard Power Systems is the world leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission PEM fuel cells for use in transportation, electricity generation and portable products. Ballard Power Systems' proprietary fuel cell technology is enabling automobile, electrical equipment and portable power product manufacturers to develop environmentally clean products for sale. The fundamental component of these end-user products is the Ballard fuel cell that combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas or petroleum) and oxygen (from air) without combustion to generate electricity. Ballard is partnering with strong, world-leading companies including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GPU International, ALSTOM and EBARA to commercialize Ballard fuel cells. Ballard has also supplied fuel cells to General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy and Matsushita Electric Works.

Ballard's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BLD" and on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol "BLDP". Ballard and the Ballard logo are registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc.