EXHIBIT 99.1

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

News Release

Ballard Power Systems
9000 Glenlyon Parkway
Burnaby BC V5J 5J8
Canada

Tel: 604-454-0900
Fax: 604-412-4700
www.ballard.com

Court Grants Final Order In Respect Of
Arrangement With Superior Plus Income Fund

For Immediate Release - December 22, 2008

VANCOUVER, CANADA– Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) announced that today the Supreme Court of British Columbia granted the Final Order the company was seeking, approving the company’s previously announced Plan of Arrangement with Superior Plus Income Fund (TSX: SPF.UN)(www.superiorplus.com).

Subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions that relate to circumstances existing on the closing date, the transaction remains on track for closing on or about December 31, 2008.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) is recognized as a world leader in the design, development, manufacture and sale of clean energy fuel cell products. Ballard’s mission is to accelerate fuel cell product adoption. To learn more about what Ballard is doing with Power to Change the World®, visit www.ballard.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs and assumptions of Ballard’s management and reflect Ballard’s current expectations as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such assumptions relate to our financial forecasts and expectations regarding our product development efforts, manufacturing capacity, and market demand. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different, including, without limitation, the rate of mass adoption of our products, product development delays, changing environmental regulations, our ability to attract and retain business partners and customers, our access to funding, increased competition, our ability to protect our intellectual property, changes in our customers’ requirements, and our ability to provide the capital required for product development, operations and marketing. Readers should not place undue reliance on Ballard’s forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward looking statements. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors that could affect Ballard’s future performance, please refer to our most recent Annual Information Form.

The securities to be issued in connection with the transaction have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

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For further information, or to arrange an interview, please call

Amy Harada Bradley

604-412-7913

amy.harada@ballard.com

Ballard, the Ballard logo and Power to Change the World are registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc.

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BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC 6-K