Exhibit 99.1

Ballard Announces First Quarter 2017 Conference Call

VANCOUVER, April 19, 2017 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) to review first quarter 2017 operating results.

The live call can be accessed by dialing +1-604-638-5340. Alternatively, a live webcast can be accessed through a link on Ballard's homepage (www.ballard.com). Following the call, the webcast will be archived in the 'Investor Presentations & Events' area of the 'Investors' section of Ballard's website (www.ballard.com/investors).

About Ballard Power Systems                                                                   
Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve difficult technical and business challenges in their fuel cell programs. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2017/19/c6914.html

%CIK: 0001453015

For further information: Guy McAree, +1.604.412.7919, investors@ballard.com; media@ballard.com

CO: Ballard Power Systems Inc.

CNW 17:00e 19-APR-17