The president and CEO of leading fuel cell firm Ballard Power Systems has attended the inaugural launch of three Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses, powered by Ballard's heavy-duty fuel cell engines, in the Western Australian capital of Perth.

Dennis Campbell of Ballard was joined by a number of prominent industry and government officials at the launch of the eco-friendly, zero-emission public transport vehicles which are due to be tested over a two-year period.

Mr Campbell heaped praise on the Australian government for its commitment to implementing zero-emission urban transit in Australia.

"The commissioning of these three buses powered with Ballard fuel cells puts Western Australia at the forefront of the most dramatic and sweeping transformation in the history of motor transport," said Mr Campbell.

Participants of the forthcoming Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Futures Conference, hosted by the Western Australian Department for Planning and Infrastructure, will be given the opportunity to view and ride the Ballard-powered buses first hand.

Alannah MacTiernan, Western Australia's planning and infrastructure minister commented on the launch of the buses: "Hydrogen fuel cell technology has extraordinary potential to reduce our oil dependency and improve environmental outcomes.

"This fuel cell demonstration program that we are conducting in partnership with globally recognized technology leaders is a key element of Western Australia's Sustainable Transport Energy Program."

The fuel cells in these buses produce electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen over a platinum catalyst.