Ballard Power Systems Inc. (SEC Filing Page | XBRL Cloud Viewer | XBRL Instance)

Line Label Object Class Period Type Balance Report ElementName
1 0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information Network

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3 Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Abstract bldp:DocumentAndEntityInformationAbstract
4 Entity Registrant Name Concept (Text/String) For Period dei:EntityRegistrantName
5 Entity Central Index Key Concept (CIK Number) For Period dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
6 Document Type Concept (Submission Type) For Period dei:DocumentType
7 Amendment Flag Concept (Yes/No) For Period dei:AmendmentFlag
8 Entity Current Reporting Status Concept (Yes/No) For Period dei:EntityCurrentReportingStatus
9 Document Period End Date Concept (Date) For Period dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
10 Current Fiscal Year End Date Concept (Month/Day) For Period dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
11 Document Fiscal Year Focus Concept (Year) For Period dei:DocumentFiscalYearFocus
12 Document Fiscal Period Focus Concept (Fiscal Period) For Period dei:DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus
13 Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Concept (Shares) As Of dei:EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
14 1001000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Financial Position Network

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16 Statement of financial position [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:StatementOfFinancialPositionAbstract
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18 Current assets: Abstract ifrs-full:CurrentAssetsAbstract
19 Cash and cash equivalents Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalents
20 Trade and other receivables Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentReceivables
21 Inventories Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Inventories
22 Prepaid expenses and other current assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CurrentPrepaidExpenses
23 Total current assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CurrentAssets
24 Non-current assets: Abstract ifrs-full:NoncurrentAssetsAbstract
25 Property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipment
26 Intangible assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
27 Goodwill Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Goodwill
28 Investments Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
29 Other non-current assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:OtherAssets
30 Total assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Assets
31 Liabilities and Equity Abstract ifrs-full:EquityAndLiabilitiesAbstract
32 Current liabilities: Abstract ifrs-full:CurrentLiabilitiesAbstract
33 Trade and other payables Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentPayables
34 Current contract liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentContractLiabilities
35 Provisions and other current liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentProvisions
36 Finance lease liability Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentFinanceLeaseLiabilities
37 Total current liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentLiabilities
38 Non-current liabilities: Abstract ifrs-full:NoncurrentLiabilitiesAbstract
39 Finance lease liability Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncurrentFinanceLeaseLiabilities
40 Deferred gain on finance lease liability Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:DeferredGainOnFinanceLeaseLiability
41 Provisions and other non-current liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncurrentProvisions
42 Employee future benefits Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncurrentProvisionsForEmployeeBenefits
43 Total liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Liabilities
44 Equity: Abstract ifrs-full:EquityAbstract
45 Share capital Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:IssuedCapital
46 Contributed surplus Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:AdditionalPaidinCapital
47 Accumulated deficit Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:RetainedEarnings
48 Foreign currency reserve Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:ReserveOfExchangeDifferencesOnTranslation
49 Total equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
50 Total liabilities and equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:EquityAndLiabilities
51 1002000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Loss and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Network

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52 Implied Table Table

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53 Profit or loss [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:IncomeStatementAbstract
54 Revenues: Abstract ifrs-full:RevenueAbstract
55 Product and service revenues Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:Revenue
56 Product and service revenues Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RevenueFromContractsWithCustomers
57 Cost of product and service revenues Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CostOfSales
58 Gross margin Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GrossProfit
59 Operating expenses: Abstract ifrs-full:ExpenseByNatureAbstract
60 Research and product development Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
61 General and administrative Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdministrativeExpense
62 Sales and marketing Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:SalesAndMarketingExpense
63 Other expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherExpenseByNature
64 Total operating expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseByNature
65 Results from operating activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossFromOperatingActivities
66 Finance income (loss) and other Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:FinanceIncome
67 Finance expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:FinanceCosts
68 Net finance income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:FinanceExpenseNet
69 Loss on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:Gainslossesondisposalsofassets
70 Equity in earnings (loss) of investment in joint venture and associates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
71 Impairment charges on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLoss
72 Loss before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLossBeforeTax
73 Income tax expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
74 Net loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
75 Other comprehensive income (loss): Abstract ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
76 Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss: Abstract ifrs-full:ComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTaxAbstract
77 Actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxGainsLossesOnRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlans
78 Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillNotBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
79 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Abstract ifrs-full:ComponentsOfOtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTaxAbstract
80 Foreign currency translation differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxExchangeDifferencesOnTranslation
81 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeThatWillBeReclassifiedToProfitOrLossNetOfTax
82 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncome
83 Total comprehensive loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ComprehensiveIncome
84 Basic and diluted loss per share Abstract ifrs-full:EarningsPerShareAbstract
85 Basic and diluted loss per share (in USD per share) Concept (Share) For Period ifrs-full:BasicAndDilutedEarningsLossPerShare
86 Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (shares) Concept (Shares) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageShares
87 1003000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Network

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88 Statement of changes in equity [table] Table

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89 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
90 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
91 DSUs Member bldp:DeferredShareUnitsMember
92 RSUs Member bldp:RestrictedShareUnitsRSUMember
93 Warrants Member bldp:WarrantsMember
94 Components of equity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ComponentsOfEquityAxis
95 Equity [member] Member ifrs-full:EquityMember
96 Share capital Member ifrs-full:IssuedCapitalMember
97 Contributed surplus Member ifrs-full:AdditionalPaidinCapitalMember
98 Accumulated deficit Member ifrs-full:RetainedEarningsMember
99 Foreign currency reserve Member ifrs-full:ReserveOfExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationMember
100 Non- controlling interests Member ifrs-full:NoncontrollingInterestsMember
101 Statement of changes in equity [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:StatementOfChangesInEquityLineItems
102 Equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
103 Equity (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesOutstanding
104 Net loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
105 Private placement (note 20) (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfSharesIssuedEquity
106 Private placement (note 20) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IssueOfEquity
107 Non dilutive financing Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AmountRemovedFromReserveOfChangeInValueOfTimeValueOfOptionsAndIncludedInInitialCostOrOtherCarryingAmountOfNonfinancialAssetLiabilityOrFirmCommitmentForWhichFairValueHedgeAccountingIsApplied
108 Redeemed/exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
109 Redeemed/exercised Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughExerciseOfOptions
110 Share-based compensation (note 20) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughSharebasedPaymentTransactions
111 Ballard Power Systems Europe (NCI) adjustment for change in ownership (note 18) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInOwnershipInterestsInSubsidiariesThatDoNotResultInLossOfControl
112 Other comprehensive income (loss): Abstract ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeAbstract
113 Defined benefit plan actuarial gain (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxGainsLossesOnRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlans
114 Foreign currency translation for foreign operations Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxExchangeDifferencesOnTranslation
115 Equity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Equity
116 Equity (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesOutstanding
117 1005000 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Network

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118 Implied Table Table

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119 Statement of cash flows [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:StatementOfCashFlowsAbstract
120 Operating activities: Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract
121 Net loss for the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
122 Adjustments for: Abstract ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForReconcileProfitLossAbstract
123 Share-based compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForSharebasedPayments
124 Employee future benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeBenefitLiabilities
125 Employee future benefits plan contributions Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsToAndOnBehalfOfEmployees
126 Depreciation and amortization Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDepreciationAndAmortisationExpense
127 Loss (gain) on decommissioning liabilities Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:Adjustmentsforgainslossesdecommissioningofliabilities
128 Amortization of deferred lease inducement Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:AdjustmentsForAmortisationOfDeferredLeaseInducement
129 Loss on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForLossesGainsOnDisposalOfNoncurrentAssets
130 Impairment charges on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForImpairmentLossReversalOfImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
131 Impairment loss on trade receivables Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossTradeReceivables
132 Unrealized loss (gain) on forward exchange contracts Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForUnrealisedForeignExchangeLossesGains
133 Equity in (earnings) loss of investment in joint venture and associates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
134 Total Adjustments Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInOperations
135 Changes in non-cash working capital: Abstract bldp:ChangesinnoncashworkingcapitalAbstract
136 Trade and other receivables Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDecreaseIncreaseInTradeAndOtherReceivables
137 Inventories Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDecreaseIncreaseInInventories
138 Prepaid expenses and other current assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDecreaseIncreaseInOtherOperatingReceivables
139 Trade and other payables Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInTradeAndOtherPayables
140 Deferred revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:AdjustmentsForIncreaseDecreaseInContractLiabilities
141 Warranty provision Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForProvisions
142 Changes in non-cash working capital: Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:OtherAdjustmentsToReconcileProfitLoss
143 Cash used in operating activities Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInOperatingActivities
144 Investing activities: Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract
145 Additions to property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
146 Net proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment and other Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromSalesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
147 Additions to intangible assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfIntangibleAssetsClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
148 Investment in joint venture and associates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfInterestsInInvestmentsAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
149 Purchase of non-controlling interest in subsidiary Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsFromChangesInOwnershipInterestsInSubsidiaries
150 Cash used in investing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInInvestingActivities
151 Financing activities: Abstract ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract
152 Net payment of finance lease liabilities Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsOfFinanceLeaseLiabilitiesClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
153 Net proceeds on issuance of share capital from share option exercises Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromExerciseOfOptions
154 Net proceeds on issuance of share capital from warrant exercises Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ProceedsFromWarrantExercises1
155 Net proceeds on issuance of share capital from private placement Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ProceedsfromissuingsharesPrivateplacement
156 Cash provided by financing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CashFlowsFromUsedInFinancingActivities
157 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents held Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:EffectOfExchangeRateChangesOnCashAndCashEquivalents
158 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInCashAndCashEquivalents
159 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalents
160 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:CashAndCashEquivalents
161 2101100 - Disclosure - Reporting Entity Network

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162 Implied Table Table

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163 Corporate Information And Statement Of IFRS Compliance [Abstract] Abstract bldp:CorporateInformationAndStatementOfIFRSComplianceAbstract
164 Reporting Entity Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfNatureOfBusinessExplanatoryTextBlock
165 2104100 - Disclosure - Basis of preparation Network

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167 Corporate Information And Statement Of IFRS Compliance [Abstract] Abstract bldp:CorporateInformationAndStatementOfIFRSComplianceAbstract
168 Basis of preparation Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfBasisOfPreparationOfFinancialStatementsExplanatory
169 2107100 - Disclosure - Changes in accounting policies Network

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170 Implied Table Table

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171 Corporate Information And Statement Of IFRS Compliance [Abstract] Abstract bldp:CorporateInformationAndStatementOfIFRSComplianceAbstract
172 Changes in accounting policies Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfChangesInAccountingPoliciesAccountingEstimatesAndErrorsExplanatory
173 2108100 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies Network

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174 Implied Table Table

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175 Corporate Information And Statement Of IFRS Compliance [Abstract] Abstract bldp:CorporateInformationAndStatementOfIFRSComplianceAbstract
176 Significant accounting policies Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesExplanatory
177 2109100 - Disclosure - Critical judgments in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty Network

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178 Implied Table Table

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179 Disclosure of Changes in Accounting Policies, Accounting Estimates and Errors [Abstract] Abstract bldp:DisclosureofChangesinAccountingPoliciesAccountingEstimatesandErrorsAbstract
180 Critical judgments in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfAccountingJudgementsAndEstimatesExplanatory
181 2110100 - Disclosure - Recent accounting pronouncements and future accounting policy changes Network

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182 Implied Table Table

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184 Recent accounting pronouncements and future accounting policy changes Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfChangesInAccountingPoliciesExplanatory
185 2113100 - Disclosure - Trade and other receivables Network

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186 Implied Table Table

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189 2116100 - Disclosure - Inventories Network

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190 Implied Table Table

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193 2119100 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment Network

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194 Implied Table Table

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195 Property, plant and equipment [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
196 Property, plant and equipment Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentExplanatory
197 2122100 - Disclosure - Intangible assets Network

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198 Implied Table Table

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199 Intangible Assets [Abstract] Abstract bldp:IntangibleAssetsAbstract
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201 2125100 - Disclosure - Goodwill Network

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205 2128100 - Disclosure - Investments Network

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213 2134100 - Disclosure - Trade and other payables Network

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217 2137100 - Disclosure - Deferred revenue Network

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218 Implied Table Table

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219 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
220 Deferred revenue Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRevenueFromContractsWithCustomersExplanatory
221 2140100 - Disclosure - Provisions and other liabilities Network

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225 2143100 - Disclosure - Finance lease liability Network

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226 Implied Table Table

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229 2146100 - Disclosure - Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S non-controlling interests Network

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233 2149100 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits Network

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237 2152100 - Disclosure - Equity Network

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238 Implied Table Table

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241 2158100 - Disclosure - Operating leases Network

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245 2161100 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies Network

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253 2167100 - Disclosure - Personnel expenses Network

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257 2170100 - Disclosure - Other operating expense Network

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265 2176100 - Disclosure - Loss on sale of assets Network

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269 2179100 - Disclosure - Impairment charges on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment Network

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270 Implied Table Table

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273 2182100 - Disclosure - Income taxes Network

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274 Implied Table Table

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277 2185100 - Disclosure - Related party transactions Network

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279 Related Party [Abstract] Abstract bldp:RelatedPartyAbstract
280 Related party transactions Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRelatedPartyExplanatory
281 2188100 - Disclosure - Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Network

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284 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfCashFlowStatementExplanatory
285 2191100 - Disclosure - Operating segments Network

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286 Implied Table Table

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287 Operating Segments [Abstract] Abstract bldp:OperatingSegmentsAbstract
288 Operating segments Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfEntitysReportableSegmentsExplanatory
289 2197100 - Disclosure - Financial instruments Network

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290 Implied Table Table

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292 Financial instruments Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialRiskManagementExplanatory
293 2198100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event Network

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294 Implied Table Table

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296 Subsequent Event Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfEventsAfterReportingPeriodExplanatory
297 2208201 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Policies) Network

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298 Implied Table Table

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300 Basis of consolidation Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DescriptionofaccountingpolicyforconsolidationPolicyTextBlock
301 Foreign currency Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForForeignCurrencyTranslationExplanatory
302 Financial assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForFinancialAssetsExplanatory
303 Financial liabilities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForFinancialLiabilitiesExplanatory
304 Share capital Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForIssuedCapitalExplanatory
305 Inventories Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForMeasuringInventories
306 Property, plant and equipment Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForPropertyPlantAndEquipmentExplanatory
307 Leases Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForLeasesExplanatory
308 Goodwill and Intangible assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillExplanatory
309 Impairment, Financial assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForImpairmentOfFinancialAssetsExplanatory
310 Impairment, Non-financial assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForImpairmentOfNonfinancialAssetsExplanatory
311 Provisions Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForProvisionsExplanatory
312 Revenue recognition Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForRecognitionOfRevenue
313 Finance income and expense Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForFinanceIncomeAndCostsExplanatory
314 Income taxes Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForIncomeTaxExplanatory
315 Employee benefits Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForEmployeeBenefitsExplanatory
316 Share-based compensation plans Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForSharebasedPaymentTransactionsExplanatory
317 Earnings (loss) per share Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForEarningsPerShareExplanatory
318 Government assistance and investment tax credits Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForTaxesOtherThanIncomeTaxExplanatory
319 Segment reporting Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfAccountingPolicyForSegmentReportingExplanatory
320 2308302 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Tables) Network

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323 Schedule of Subsidiaries Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:ScheduleofSubsidiariesTableTextBlock
324 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutPropertyPlantAndEquipmentExplanatory
325 Disclosure of recognition and measurement of goodwill and intangible assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfRecognitionAndMeasurementOfGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsTableTextBlock
326 Disclosure of intangible assets with indefinite useful life Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureofintangibleassetswithdefinitiveusefullifeTableTextBlock
327 2313301 - Disclosure - Trade and other receivables (Tables) Network

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328 Implied Table Table

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330 Trade and other receivables Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinancialAssetsExplanatory
331 Explanation of significant changes in contract assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:ExplanationOfSignificantChangesInContractAssetsAndContractLiabilitiesExplanatory
332 2316301 - Disclosure - Inventories (Tables) Network

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333 Implied Table Table

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334 Inventories [Abstract] Abstract bldp:InventoriesAbstract
335 Disclosure Of Detailed Information About Inventories Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutInventoriesTableTextBlock
336 2319301 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentTables
337 Implied Table Table

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339 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutPropertyPlantAndEquipmentExplanatory
340 2322301 - Disclosure - Intangible assets (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/IntangibleAssetsTables
341 Implied Table Table

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342 Intangible Assets [Abstract] Abstract bldp:IntangibleAssetsAbstract
343 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutIntangibleAssetsExplanatory
344 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillExplanatory
345 2328301 - Disclosure - Investments (Tables) Network

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346 Implied Table Table

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348 Disclosure of interests in other entities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfInterestsInOtherEntitiesExplanatory
349 2334301 - Disclosure - Trade and other payables (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/TradeAndOtherPayablesTables
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352 Schedule of trade and other payables Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:ScheduleOfAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities1TableTextBlock
353 2337301 - Disclosure - Deferred revenue (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/DeferredRevenueTables
354 Implied Table Table

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356 Explanation of significant changes in contract liabilities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:ExplanationOfSignificantChangesInContractAssetsAndContractLiabilitiesExplanatory
357 2340301 - Disclosure - Provisions and other liabilities (Tables) Network

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358 Implied Table Table

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360 Disclosure of other provisions Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsExplanatory
361 2343301 - Disclosure - Finance lease liability (Tables) Network

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362 Implied Table Table

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364 Finance lease liabilities payable Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeExplanatory
365 2349301 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsTables
366 Implied Table Table

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368 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetExplanatory
369 Disclosure of comprehensive income by plan type Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureofComprehensiveIncomeLossByPlanTypeTableTextBlock
370 Disclosure of fair value of plan assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFairValueOfPlanAssetsExplanatory
371 Disclosure of defined benefit plans Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDefinedBenefitPlansExplanatory
372 Disclosure of sensitivity analysis for actuarial assumptions Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsExplanatory
373 2352301 - Disclosure - Equity (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityTables
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377 Disclosure of classes of share capital Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalExplanatory
378 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share warrants explanatory Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareWarrantsExplanatoryTableTextBlock
379 Disclosure of number and weighted average exercise prices of share options Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNumberAndWeightedAverageExercisePricesOfShareOptionsExplanatory
380 Disclosure of number and weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding share options Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNumberAndWeightedAverageRemainingContractualLifeOfOutstandingShareOptionsExplanatory
381 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsExplanatory
382 Disclosure of indirect measurement of fair value of goods or services received, share options granted during period Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIndirectMeasurementOfFairValueOfGoodsOrServicesReceivedShareOptionsGrantedDuringPeriodExplanatory
383 Disclosure of number and weighted average exercise prices of other equity instruments Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNumberAndWeightedAverageExercisePricesOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExplanatory
384 2358301 - Disclosure - Operating leases (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/OperatingLeasesTables
385 Implied Table Table

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388 2364301 - Disclosure - Disaggregation of revenue (Tables) Network

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389 Implied Table Table

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392 2367301 - Disclosure - Personnel expenses (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/PersonnelExpensesTables
393 Implied Table Table

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394 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
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396 2370301 - Disclosure - Other operating expense (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/OtherOperatingExpenseTables
397 Implied Table Table

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398 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
399 Disclosure of detailed information on other operating expense Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationOtherOperatingExpensesTableTextBlock
400 2373301 - Disclosure - Finance income and expense (Tables) Network

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*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinanceIncomeAndExpenseTables
401 Implied Table Table

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402 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
403 Disclosure of detailed information of finance income and expense Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationonFinanceIncomeAndExpenseTableTextBlock
404 2376301 - Disclosure - Loss on sale of assets (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/LossOnSaleOfAssetsTables
405 Implied Table Table

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407 Disclosure of detailed information on sale of assets Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationOnDisposalofAssetsorDisposalGroupsConstitutingDiscontinuedOperationTableTextBlock
408 2382301 - Disclosure - Income taxes (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables
409 Implied Table Table

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410 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract bldp:IncomeTaxesAbstract
411 Disclosure of major components of tax expense (income) Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfMajorComponentsOfTaxExpenseIncomeTableTextBlock
412 Disclosure of reconciliation of accounting profit Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfAccountingProfitMultipliedByApplicableTaxRatesAndAverageEffectiveTaxRateTableTextBlock
413 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsExplanatory
414 2385301 - Disclosure - Related party transactions (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsTables
415 Implied Table Table

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417 Disclosure of transactions between related parties Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesExplanatory
418 2388301 - Disclosure - Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (Tables) Network

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421 Non-cash financing and investing activities Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period bldp:DisclosureOfCashFlowStatementInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesExplanatoryTableTextBlock
422 2391301 - Disclosure - Operating segments (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/OperatingSegmentsTables
423 Implied Table Table

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425 Disclosure of geographical areas Concept (Text Block (HTML)) For Period ifrs-full:DisclosureOfGeographicalAreasExplanatory
426 2397301 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Tables) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsTables
427 Implied Table Table

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430 2408403 - Disclosure - Significant accounting policies (Details) Network

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459 Computer equipment Member ifrs-full:ComputerEquipmentMember
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492 2410401 - Disclosure - Recent accounting pronouncements and future accounting policy changes (Details) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/RecentAccountingPronouncementsAndFutureAccountingPolicyChangesDetails
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 ifrs-full:DescriptionOfExpectedImpactOfInitialApplicationOfNewStandardsOrInterpretationsTable
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508 2413402 - Disclosure - Trade and other receivables - Trade and other receivables (Details) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/TradeAndOtherReceivablesTradeAndOtherReceivablesDetails
509 Implied Table Table

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514 Trade and other receivables Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentReceivables
515 2413403 - Disclosure - Trade and other receivables - Contract assets (Details) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/TradeAndOtherReceivablesContractAssetsDetails
516 Implied Table Table

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517 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
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522 2416402 - Disclosure - Inventories (Details) Network

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 http://www.ballard.com/role/InventoriesDetails
523 Implied Table Table

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534 2419402 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment - Net carrying amounts (Details) Network

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535 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [table] Table

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 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable
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541 Leasehold improvements Member ifrs-full:LeaseholdImprovementsMember
542 Production and test equipment Member ifrs-full:MachineryMember
543 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
544 Property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipment
545 2419403 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment - Rollforward (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentRollforwardDetails
546 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable
547 Classes of property, plant and equipment [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis
548 Property, plant and equipment Member ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
549 Building under finance lease Member bldp:BuildingsUnderFinanceLeaseMember
550 Computer equipment Member ifrs-full:ComputerEquipmentMember
551 Furniture and fixtures Member ifrs-full:FixturesAndFittingsMember
552 Furniture and fixtures under finance lease Member bldp:FixturesAndFittingsUnderFinanceLeaseMember
553 Leasehold improvements Member ifrs-full:LeaseholdImprovementsMember
554 Production and test equipment Member ifrs-full:MachineryMember
555 Production and test equipment under finance lease Member bldp:MachineryUnderFinanceLeaseMember
556 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
557 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
558 Cost Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
559 Accumulated amortisation Member ifrs-full:AccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentMember
560 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
561 Reconciliation of changes in property, plant and equipment [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
562 Property, plant and equipment, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipment
563 Additions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdditionsOtherThanThroughBusinessCombinationsPropertyPlantAndEquipment
564 Additions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AcquisitionsThroughBusinessCombinationsPropertyPlantAndEquipment
565 Depreciation Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:DepreciationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
566 Impairment loss Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossPropertyPlantAndEquipment
567 Disposals Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsPropertyPlantAndEquipment
568 Transfers Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughTransfersPropertyPlantAndEquipment
569 Effect of movements in exchange rates Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesPropertyPlantAndEquipment
570 Property, plant and equipment, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipment
571 2419404 - Disclosure - Property, plant and equipment - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNarrativeDetails
572 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentTable
573 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
574 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
575 Power Manager Business Member bldp:PowerManagerMember
576 SOFC Business Member bldp:SolidOxideFuelCellsMember
577 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
578 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
579 Cost Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
580 Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
581 Cash additions Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PurchaseOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
582 Adjustment for asset retirement obligations Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInExistingProvisionsOtherProvisions
583 Disposals Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsPropertyPlantAndEquipment
584 Impairment loss Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossPropertyPlantAndEquipment
585 Property, plant and equipment, net realizable value Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FairValueOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentMateriallyDifferentFromCarryingAmount
586 2422402 - Disclosure - Intangible assets - Acquired (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IntangibleAssetsAcquiredDetails
587 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsTable
588 Business combinations [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BusinessCombinationsAxis
589 Entity's total for business combinations [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForBusinessCombinationsMember
590 Intellectual property acquired from UTC Member bldp:UTCMember
591 Intellectual property acquired from H2 Logic A/S Member bldp:H2LogicASMember
592 Intellectual property acquired from Protonex Member bldp:ProtonexMember
593 Intellectual property acquired by Ballard Power Systems Europe Member bldp:BallardPowerSystemsEuropeMember
594 Classes of intangible assets other than goodwill [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillAxis
595 Intangible assets Member ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillMember
596 Internally generated fuel cell intangible assets Member ifrs-full:CapitalisedDevelopmentExpenditureMember
597 ERP management reporting software system Member ifrs-full:TechnologybasedIntangibleAssetsMember
598 Patents, know-how and in-process research & development Member ifrs-full:CopyrightsPatentsAndOtherIndustrialPropertyRightsServiceAndOperatingRightsMember
599 Methods of generation [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MethodsOfGenerationAxis
600 Methods of generation [member] Member ifrs-full:MethodsOfGenerationMember
601 Internally generated Member ifrs-full:InternallyGeneratedMember
602 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsLineItems
603 Intangible assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
604 2422403 - Disclosure - Intangible assets - Rollfoward (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IntangibleAssetsRollfowardDetails
605 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsTable
606 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
607 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
608 Cost Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
609 Accumulated amortisation Member ifrs-full:AccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentMember
610 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsLineItems
611 Reconciliation of changes in intangible assets other than goodwill [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillAbstract
612 Intangible assets other than goodwill Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
613 Additions to and acquisition of intangible assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:AdditionsToAndAcquisitionsThroughBusinessCombinationsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
614 Amortization expense Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:AmortisationIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
615 Disposals Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
616 Impairment charges (note 28) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
617 Intangible assets other than goodwill Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
618 2422404 - Disclosure - Intangible assets - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IntangibleAssetsNarrativeDetails
619 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsTable
620 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
621 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
622 Power Manager Business Member bldp:PowerManagerMember
623 Carrying amount, accumulated depreciation, amortisation and impairment and gross carrying amount [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CarryingAmountAccumulatedDepreciationAmortisationAndImpairmentAndGrossCarryingAmountAxis
624 Carrying amount [member] Member ifrs-full:CarryingAmountMember
625 Cost Member ifrs-full:GrossCarryingAmountMember
626 Disclosure of detailed information about intangible assets [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfIntangibleAssetsLineItems
627 Amortization expense Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:AmortisationIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
628 Disposals Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
629 Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss, intangible assets other than goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
630 Net realizable value Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit bldp:FairValueOfIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwillMateriallyDifferentFromCarryingAmount
631 2425401 - Disclosure - Goodwill (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/GoodwillDetails
632 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillTable
633 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
634 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
635 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
636 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
637 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
638 Power Manager Business Member bldp:PowerManagerMember
639 Classes of intangible assets and goodwill [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillAxis
640 Intangible assets and goodwill [member] Member ifrs-full:IntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillMember
641 Goodwill Member ifrs-full:GoodwillMember
642 Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in intangible assets and goodwill [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfReconciliationOfChangesInIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwillLineItems
643 Goodwill Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Goodwill
644 Decrease through loss of control of subsidiary, intangible assets and goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:DisposalsIntangibleAssetsAndGoodwill
645 Discount rate applied to cash flow projections Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:DescriptionOfDiscountRatesAppliedToCashFlowProjections
646 Growth rate used to extrapolate cash flow projections Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:DescriptionOfGrowthRateUsedToExtrapolateCashFlowProjections
647 Terminal Value Multiplier Concept (Pure) As Of bldp:TerminalValueMultiplier
648 Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss, goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossGoodwill
649 2428402 - Disclosure - Investments - Schedule of investments (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/InvestmentsScheduleOfInvestmentsDetails
650 Disclosure of joint ventures [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesTable
651 Joint ventures [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointVenturesAxis
652 Entity's total for joint ventures [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointVenturesMember
653 Synergy Ballard JVCo Member bldp:SynergyJVMember
654 Other Member ifrs-full:AggregatedIndividuallyImmaterialJointVenturesMember
655 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
656 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
657 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
658 Disclosure of joint ventures [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesLineItems
659 Investments, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
660 Adjustment for actual cash contributed to JV Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:AdjustmentforActualCashContributedtoJointVenture
661 Elimination of 10% profit on MEAs not yet sold or consumed Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:EliminationofTenPercentProfitonMEANotYetSoldOrConsumed
662 Capital contribution to JV Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CashFlowsUsedInObtainingControlOfSubsidiariesOrOtherBusinessesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
663 Incorporation costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:Incorporationcosts
664 Equity in earnings (loss) of investment in joint venture and associates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
665 Investments, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
666 2428403 - Disclosure - Investments - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/InvestmentsNarrativeDetails
667 Disclosure of joint ventures [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesTable
668 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
669 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
670 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
671 Non-adjusting events after reporting period [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodAxis
672 Non-adjusting events after reporting period [member] Member ifrs-full:NonadjustingEventsMember
673 Capital Contribution Member bldp:CapitalContributionMember
674 Joint ventures [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointVenturesAxis
675 Entity's total for joint ventures [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointVenturesMember
676 Synergy Ballard JVCo Member bldp:SynergyJVMember
677 Disclosure of joint ventures [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesLineItems
678 Investments Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
679 Capital contribution Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CashFlowsUsedInObtainingControlOfSubsidiariesOrOtherBusinessesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities
680 Percentage ownership interest Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVenture
681 2428404 - Disclosure - Investments - Financial Information of Weichai Ballard (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/InvestmentsFinancialInformationOfWeichaiBallardDetails
682 Disclosure of joint ventures [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesTable
683 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
684 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
685 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
686 Legal Entity [Axis] Axis dei:LegalEntityAxis
687 Entity [Domain] Member dei:EntityDomain
688 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
689 Disclosure of joint ventures [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesLineItems
690 Percentage ownership interest Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVenture
691 Cash Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:Cash
692 Prepaid expenses and other current assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit bldp:Prepaidexpensesandothercurrentassets
693 Trade and other payables Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentPayables
694 Net assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:NetAssetsLiabilities
695 Incorporation costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:Incorporationcosts
696 Foreign exchange Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
697 Carrying amount of investment Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:InvestmentAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
698 Operating expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseByNature
699 Net loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ProfitLoss
700 Corporate share of net loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ShareOfProfitLossOfAssociatesAndJointVenturesAccountedForUsingEquityMethod
701 2428405 - Disclosure - Investments - Capital contribution commitments (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/InvestmentsCapitalContributionCommitmentsDetails
702 Disclosure of joint ventures [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesTable
703 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
704 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
705 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
706 Maturity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MaturityAxis
707 Aggregated time bands [member] Member ifrs-full:AggregatedTimeBandsMember
708 Less than 1 year Member ifrs-full:NotLaterThanOneYearMember
709 1-3 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanOneYearAndNotLaterThanThreeYearsMember
710 4-5 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanFourYearsAndNotLaterThanFiveYearsMember
711 Disclosure of joint ventures [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfJointVenturesLineItems
712 Total capital contributions Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CommitmentsInRelationToJointVentures
713 2431401 - Disclosure - Bank facilities (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/BankFacilitiesDetails
714 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsTable
715 Borrowings by name [axis] Axis ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameAxis
716 Borrowings by name [member] Member ifrs-full:BorrowingsByNameMember
717 Operating Facility Member bldp:BankOperatingLineMember
718 Leasing Facility Member bldp:LeasingFacilityMember
719 Forward Contract Facility Member bldp:ForwardContractFacilityMember
720 EncoreFX Facility Member bldp:EncoreFXFacilityMember
721 Types of interest rates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfInterestRatesAxis
722 Interest rate types [member] Member ifrs-full:InterestRateTypesMember
723 Prime Rate Member bldp:PrimeRate1Member
724 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
725 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
726 Currency risk Member ifrs-full:CurrencyRiskMember
727 Disclosure of detailed information about borrowings [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDetailedInformationAboutBorrowingsLineItems
728 Facility, maximum borrowing capacity Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity1
729 Borrowings, adjustment to interest rate basis Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:BorrowingsAdjustmentToInterestRateBasis
730 Borrowings outstanding Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Borrowings
731 Foreign exchange contracts Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:NotionalAmount
732 Average price of hedging instrument (CDN per USD) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:AveragePriceOfHedgingInstrument
733 Unrealized gain (loss) on forward foreign exchange contracts Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized1
734 2434402 - Disclosure - Trade and other payables (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/TradeAndOtherPayablesDetails
735 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
736 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
737 Trade accounts payable Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentPayablesToTradeSuppliers
738 Compensation payable Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent1
739 Other liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:OtherCurrentLiabilities
740 Taxes payable Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:TaxesPayableCurrent1
741 Trade and other payables Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:TradeAndOtherCurrentPayables
742 2437402 - Disclosure - Deferred revenue (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/DeferredRevenueDetails
743 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
744 Subclassifications of assets, liabilities and equities [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:SubclassificationsOfAssetsLiabilitiesAndEquitiesAbstract
745 At January 1, 2018 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentContractLiabilities
746 Additions to deferred revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughCumulativeCatchupAdjustmentsToRevenueContractLiabilities
747 Revenue recognized during the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DecreaseThroughPerformanceObligationBeingSatisfiedContractLiabilities
748 At December 31, 2018 Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentContractLiabilities
749 2440402 - Disclosure - Provisions and other liabilities - Rollforward (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/ProvisionsAndOtherLiabilitiesRollforwardDetails
750 Disclosure of other provisions [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsTable
751 Classes of other provisions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfProvisionsAxis
752 Other provisions [member] Member ifrs-full:OtherProvisionsMember
753 Restructuring provision Member ifrs-full:RestructuringProvisionMember
754 Warranty provision Member ifrs-full:WarrantyProvisionMember
755 Other current liabilities Member ifrs-full:ProvisionForDecommissioningRestorationAndRehabilitationCostsMember
756 Disclosure of other provisions [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsLineItems
757 Reconciliation of changes in other provisions [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:ReconciliationOfChangesInOtherProvisionsAbstract
758 Provisions and other current liabilities, beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Provisions
759 Provisions made during the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:AdditionalProvisionsOtherProvisions
760 Provisions used/paid during the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProvisionUsedOtherProvisions
761 Provisions reversed during the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:UnusedProvisionReversedOtherProvisions
762 Effect of movements in exchange rates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesOtherProvisions
763 Provisions and other current liabilities, ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Provisions
764 Current provisions Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentProvisions
765 Non-current provisions Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncurrentProvisions
766 Provisions and other current liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Provisions
767 2440403 - Disclosure - Provisions and other liabilities - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/ProvisionsAndOtherLiabilitiesNarrativeDetails
768 Disclosure of other provisions [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsTable
769 Classes of other provisions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfProvisionsAxis
770 Other provisions [member] Member ifrs-full:OtherProvisionsMember
771 Restructuring provision Member ifrs-full:RestructuringProvisionMember
772 Warranty provision Member ifrs-full:WarrantyProvisionMember
773 Decommissioning liabilities Member ifrs-full:ProvisionForDecommissioningRestorationAndRehabilitationCostsMember
774 Other - Deferred lease inducement Member bldp:LeaseInducementMember
775 Disclosure of other provisions [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsLineItems
776 Provisions made during the year Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:AdditionalProvisionsOtherProvisions
777 New additions to provision Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:NewProvisionsOtherProvisions
778 Upward adjustments / increase in provision Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseInExistingProvisionsOtherProvisions
779 Expenditures Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProvisionUsedOtherProvisions
780 Downward adjustments / provision eliminated Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:UnusedProvisionReversedOtherProvisions
781 Effect of movements in exchange rates Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughNetExchangeDifferencesOtherProvisions
782 Estimated future cash flows discounted percentage Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:EstimatedFinancialEffectOfContingentLiabilitiesDiscountedCashFlowsPercentage
783 Undiscounted amount of the estimated cash flows Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:EstimatedFinancialEffectOfContingentLiabilitiesUndiscountedCashFlows
784 Lease term, extension Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:LeaseTermExtension
785 Provisions Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:Provisions
786 2443402 - Disclosure - Finance lease liability - Lease Payables (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinanceLeaseLiabilityLeasePayablesDetails
787 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeTable
788 Classes of property, plant and equipment [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis
789 Property, plant and equipment Member ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
790 Building lease Member bldp:BuildingsUnderFinanceLeaseMember
791 Machinery lease Member bldp:MachineryUnderFinanceLeaseMember
792 Maturity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MaturityAxis
793 Aggregated time bands [member] Member ifrs-full:AggregatedTimeBandsMember
794 Less than one year Member ifrs-full:NotLaterThanOneYearMember
795 Between one and five years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanOneYearAndNotLaterThanFiveYearsMember
796 More than five years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanFiveYearsMember
797 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeLineItems
798 Future minimum lease payments Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:MinimumFinanceLeasePaymentsPayable
799 Interest Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FutureFinanceChargeOnFinanceLease
800 Present value of minimum lease payments Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:MinimumFinanceLeasePaymentsPayableAtPresentValue
801 Current Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CurrentFinanceLeaseLiabilities
802 Non-current Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:NoncurrentFinanceLeaseLiabilities
803 Finance lease liabilities Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinanceLeaseLiabilities
804 2443403 - Disclosure - Finance lease liability - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinanceLeaseLiabilityNarrativeDetails
805 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeTable
806 Classes of property, plant and equipment [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis
807 Property, plant and equipment Member ifrs-full:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
808 Building lease Member bldp:BuildingsUnderFinanceLeaseMember
809 Machinery lease Member bldp:MachineryUnderFinanceLeaseMember
810 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeLineItems
811 Imputed interest rate Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:FinanceLeaseLiabilitiesImputedInterestRate
812 Finance lease liability Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:FinanceLeaseLiabilities
813 Deferred gain on finance lease liability Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:DeferredGainOnFinanceLeaseLiability
814 2446401 - Disclosure - Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S non-controlling interests (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/BallardPowerSystemsEuropeSNonControllingInterestsDetails
815 Disclosure of subsidiaries [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesTable
816 Subsidiaries [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis
817 Entity's total for subsidiaries [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForSubsidiariesMember
818 Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S Member bldp:BallardPowerSystemsEuropeMember
819 Disclosure of subsidiaries [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesLineItems
820 Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
821 Proportion of ownership interest in subsidiary, purchase of additional interest, percentage Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:Proportionofownershipinterestinsubsidiarypurchaseofadditionalinterestpercentage
822 Repayments of borrowings, classified as financing activities Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RepaymentsOfBorrowingsClassifiedAsFinancingActivities
823 Payments from changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries that do not result in loss of control Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsFromChangesInOwnershipInterestsInSubsidiaries
824 Ballard Power Systems Europe NCI adjustment for change in ownership Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesInOwnershipInterestsInSubsidiariesThatDoNotResultInLossOfControl
825 2449402 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Net defined benefit liability (asset) (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetDetails
826 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetTable
827 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
828 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
829 Pension Plan Member bldp:PensionPlanMember
830 Other post-retirement benefit plan Member bldp:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlanMember
831 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetLineItems
832 Net defined benefit liability (asset) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
833 2449403 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Additional Information (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsAdditionalInformationDetails
834 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetTable
835 Actuarial assumptions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsAxis
836 Actuarial assumptions [member] Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsMember
837 Actuarial assumption of medical cost trend rates Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRatesMember
838 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
839 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
840 Pension Plan Member bldp:PensionPlanMember
841 Other post-retirement benefit plan Member bldp:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlanMember
842 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAxis
843 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [member] Member ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetMember
844 Defined benefit obligation Member ifrs-full:PresentValueOfDefinedBenefitObligationMember
845 Fair value of plan assets Member ifrs-full:PlanAssetsMember
846 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetLineItems
847 Estimate of contributions expected to be paid to plan for next annual reporting period Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:EstimateOfContributionsExpectedToBePaidToPlan
848 Number of plans Concept (Integer) For Period bldp:NumberOfBenefitPlans
849 Percentage of reasonably possible decrease in actuarial assumption Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:PercentageOfReasonablyPossibleDecreaseInActuarialAssumption
850 Percentage of reasonably possible increase in actuarial assumption Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:PercentageOfReasonablyPossibleIncreaseInActuarialAssumption
851 2449404 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Future Benefits (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsFutureBenefitsDetails
852 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetTable
853 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
854 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
855 Defined benefit pension plan Member bldp:PensionPlanMember
856 Other post-retirement benefit plan Member bldp:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlanMember
857 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAxis
858 Net defined benefit liability (asset) [member] Member ifrs-full:NetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetMember
859 Defined benefit obligation Member ifrs-full:PresentValueOfDefinedBenefitObligationMember
860 Fair value of plan assets Member ifrs-full:PlanAssetsMember
861 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetLineItems
862 Net defined benefit liability (asset), beginning balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
863 Included in profit or loss Abstract ifrs-full:ChangesInNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAbstract
864 Current service cost Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CurrentServiceCostNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
865 Interest cost (income) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InterestExpenseIncomeNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
866 Benefits payable Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughOtherChangesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
867 Employee future benefit plan expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedBenefitPlans
868 Actuarial loss (gain) arising from: Abstract ifrs-full:GainLossOnRemeasurementOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAbstract
869 Demographic assumptions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInDemographicAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
870 Financial assumptions Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromChangesInFinancialAssumptionsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
871 Experience adjustment Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ActuarialGainsLossesArisingFromExperienceAdjustmentsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
872 Return on plan assets excluding interest income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ReturnOnPlanAssetsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
873 Plan expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:AdministrativeExpensesNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
874 Remeasurement (gains) losses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:GainLossOnRemeasurementOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
875 Other Abstract bldp:OtherMovementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetAbstract
876 Contributions paid by the employer Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ContributionsToPlanByEmployerNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
877 Payments in respect of settlements, net defined benefit liability (asset) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PaymentsInRespectOfSettlementsNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
878 Other total Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:IncreaseDecreaseThroughChangesOtherThanRecognizedInProfitLossOrRemeasurementNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAsset
879 Net defined benefit liability (asset), ending balance Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:LiabilityAssetOfDefinedBenefitPlans
880 2449405 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Included in comprehensive income (loss) (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsIncludedInComprehensiveIncomeLossDetails
881 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetTable
882 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
883 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
884 Pension Plan Member bldp:PensionPlanMember
885 Other post-retirement benefit plan Member bldp:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlanMember
886 Disclosure of net defined benefit liability (asset) [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNetDefinedBenefitLiabilityAssetLineItems
887 Actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxGainsLossesOnRemeasurementsOfDefinedBenefitPlans
888 2449406 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Composition of Plan Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsCompositionOfPlanAssetsDetails
889 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
890 Employee Benefits [Abstract] Abstract bldp:EmployeeBenefitsAbstract
891 Cash and cash equivalents Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:CashAndCashEquivalentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
892 Equity securities Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:EquityInstrumentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
893 Debt securities Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:DebtInstrumentsAmountContributedToFairValueOfPlanAssetsAllocationPercentage
894 Total Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:PlanAssetsAtFairValueAllocationPercentage
895 2449407 - Disclosure - Employee future benefits - Actuarial Assumptions (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EmployeeFutureBenefitsActuarialAssumptionsDetails
896 Disclosure of sensitivity analysis for actuarial assumptions [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsTable
897 Defined benefit plans [axis] Axis ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansAxis
898 Defined benefit plans [member] Member ifrs-full:DefinedBenefitPlansMember
899 Pension Plan Member bldp:PensionPlanMember
900 Other post-retirement benefit plan Member bldp:OtherPostretirementBenefitsPlanMember
901 Actuarial assumptions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsAxis
902 Actuarial assumptions [member] Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionsMember
903 Actuarial assumption of medical cost trend rates Member ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRatesMember
904 Disclosure of sensitivity analysis for actuarial assumptions [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfSensitivityAnalysisForActuarialAssumptionsLineItems
905 Discount rate, fair value benefit obligation Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRates
906 Discount rate, net expense Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:ActuarialAssumptionOfDiscountRatesNetExpense
907 Initial medical/dental health care cost trend rate Concept (Percent) As Of ifrs-full:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRates
908 Cost trend rate declines to medical and dental Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:ActuarialAssumptionOfMedicalCostTrendRatesDeclines
909 2452402 - Disclosure - Equity - Share-based compensation (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityShareBasedCompensationDetails
910 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
911 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
912 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
913 Option Expense Member bldp:EmployeeStockOption1Member
914 DSU Expense for 2018 Member bldp:DeferredShareUnitsMember
915 DSU Expense Adjustment for 2017 Member bldp:DeferredShareUnitsPriorPeriodMember
916 RSU Expense Member bldp:RestrictedShareUnitsRSUMember
917 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
918 Share-based compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
919 Share-based compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:IncreaseDecreaseThroughSharebasedPaymentTransactions
920 2452403 - Disclosure - Equity - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityNarrativeDetails
921 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
922 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
923 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
924 Warrants Member bldp:WarrantsMember
925 Stock Option Member bldp:EmployeeStockOption1Member
926 DSUs Member bldp:DeferredShareUnitsMember
927 RSUs Member bldp:RestrictedShareUnitsRSUMember
928 Classes of share capital [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalAxis
929 Share capital [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfShareCapitalMember
930 Common shares Member ifrs-full:OrdinarySharesMember
931 Sale Of Stock [Axis] Axis bldp:SaleOfStockAxis
932 Sale Of Stock [Domain] Member bldp:SaleOfStockDomain
933 Private Placement - Weichai Power Member bldp:PrivatePlacementWeichaiPowerMember
934 Private Placement - Broad-Ocean Member bldp:PrivatePlacementBroadOceanMember
935 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
936 Number of shares issued (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfSharesIssuedEquity
937 Price per share (usd per share) Concept (Share) As Of bldp:SaleOfStockPricePerShare1
938 Gross proceeds from offering Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ProceedsFromIssuingSharesGross
939 Warrants exercised (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercised
940 Net proceeds on issuance of share capital from warrant exercises Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ProceedsFromWarrantExercises1
941 Warrant outstanding (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding1
942 Award term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod1
943 Award vesting percentage Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingRightsPercentage1
944 Options exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
945 Proceeds from exercise of options Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromExerciseOfOptions
946 Options granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
947 Weighted average fair value, share options granted (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:WeightedAverageFairValueAtMeasurementDateShareOptionsGranted
948 Award vesting period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod2
949 Options outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
950 Shares to be issued (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of bldp:NumberOfSharesAvailableForGrantInShareBasedPaymentArrangement
951 Current year grants Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployeesCurrentYearGrants
952 Number of shares granted (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsGrantedInShareBasedPaymentArrangementExpensedInCurrentYear
953 Number of shares granted, expensed in prior year (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsGrantedInShareBasedPaymentArrangementExpensedInPriorYear
954 Adjustment to net income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ExpenseFromShareBasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployeesAdjustment
955 Current year grants expensed in prior year Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ExpenseFromShareBasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployeesCurrentYearGrantsExpensedInPriorYear
956 Compensation expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
957 Expense from share-based payment transactions with employees, awards not yet issued Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:Expensefromsharebasedpaymenttransactionswithemployeesawardsnotyetissued
958 Exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExercisedOrVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
959 Common shares issued (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfSharesIssuedOtherEquityInstruments
960 Outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
961 Number of plans Concept (Integer) For Period bldp:NumberOfShareBasedCompensationPlans
962 Granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsGranted
963 2452404 - Disclosure - Equity - Share capital (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityShareCapitalDetails
964 Disclosure of classes of share capital [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalTable
965 Sale Of Stock [Axis] Axis bldp:SaleOfStockAxis
966 Sale Of Stock [Domain] Member bldp:SaleOfStockDomain
967 Private Placement Member bldp:PrivatePlacement1Member
968 Disclosure of classes of share capital [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfClassesOfShareCapitalLineItems
969 Shares issued (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfSharesIssued
970 Price per share (usd per share) Concept (Share) As Of bldp:SaleOfStockPricePerShare1
971 Gross Offering proceeds (51,831,659 shares at $3.5464 per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ProceedsFromIssuingSharesGross
972 Less: Share issuance costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PaymentsForShareIssueCosts
973 Net Offering proceeds Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromIssuingShares
974 2452405 - Disclosure - Equity - Warrants (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityWarrantsDetails
975 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
976 Ranges Of Exercise Prices For Outstanding Warrants [Axis] Axis bldp:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingWarrantsAxis
977 Ranges Of Exercise Prices For Outstanding Warrants [Domain] Member bldp:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingWarrantsDomain
978 Exercise price of $1.50 Member bldp:WarrantsExercisePriceRangeOneMember
979 Exercise price of $2.00 Member bldp:WarrantsExercisePriceRangeTwoMember
980 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
981 Exercise price (usd per share) Concept (Share) For Period bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights2
982 Warrant outstanding, beginning balance (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding1
983 Warrants exercised (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercised
984 Warrants expired (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightExpired
985 Warrant outstanding, ending balance (in shares) Concept (Shares) As Of bldp:ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding1
986 2452406 - Disclosure - Equity - Share options, rollforward (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityShareOptionsRollforwardDetails
987 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
988 Share-Based Payment Arrangements [Abstract] Abstract bldp:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementsAbstract
989 Options Outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
990 Options granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
991 Options exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
992 Options forfeited (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
993 Options expired (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExpiredInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
994 Options Outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
995 Weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
996 Weighted average exercise price of share options granted (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsGrantedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
997 Weighted average exercise price of share options exercised (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExercisedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
998 Weighted average exercise price of share options forfeited (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
999 Weighted average exercise price of share options expired (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExpiredInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1000 Weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1001 2452407 - Disclosure - Equity - Share options, range of exercise prices (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityShareOptionsRangeOfExercisePricesDetails
1002 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsTable
1003 Ranges of exercise prices for outstanding share options [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingShareOptionsAxis
1004 Ranges of exercise prices for outstanding share options [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesOfExercisePricesForOutstandingShareOptionsMember
1005 $0.83 - $1.19 Member bldp:ExercisePriceRangeOneMember
1006 $1.23 - $1.96 Member bldp:ExercisePriceRangeTwoMember
1007 $2.00 - $2.74 Member bldp:ExercisePriceRangeThreeMember
1008 $2.80 - $3.74 Member bldp:ExercisePriceRangeFourMember
1009 Range [axis] Axis ifrs-full:RangeAxis
1010 Ranges [member] Member ifrs-full:RangesMember
1011 Bottom of range Member ifrs-full:BottomOfRangeMember
1012 Top of range Member ifrs-full:TopOfRangeMember
1013 Disclosure of range of exercise prices of outstanding share options [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfRangeOfExercisePricesOfOutstandingShareOptionsLineItems
1014 Exercise price of outstanding share options Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:ExercisePriceOfOutstandingShareOptions
1015 Options outstanding (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOutstandingShareOptions
1016 Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageRemainingContractualLifeOfOutstandingShareOptions
1017 Weighted average exercise price of share options outstanding (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1018 Number options exercisable (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfShareOptionsExercisableInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1019 Weighted average exercise price of share options exercisable (usd per share) Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:WeightedAverageExercisePriceOfShareOptionsExercisableInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1020 2452408 - Disclosure - Equity - Share options, fair value assumptions (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityShareOptionsFairValueAssumptionsDetails
1021 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1022 Share-Based Payment Arrangements [Abstract] Abstract bldp:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementsAbstract
1023 Expected life (years) Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:OptionlifeshareoptionsgrantedPeriod
1024 Expected volatility Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfExpectedVolatilityShareOptionsGranted
1025 Risk-free interest rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:DescriptionOfRiskFreeInterestRateShareOptionsGranted
1026 2452409 - Disclosure - Equity - Deferred share units (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityDeferredShareUnitsDetails
1027 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
1028 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
1029 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
1030 DSUs Member bldp:DeferredShareUnitsMember
1031 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
1032 Balance at (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1033 Granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsGranted
1034 Exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExercisedOrVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1035 Balance at (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1036 2452410 - Disclosure - Equity - Restricted share units (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/EquityRestrictedShareUnitsDetails
1037 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementTable
1038 Types of share-based payment arrangements [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementsAxis
1039 Share-based payment arrangements [member] Member ifrs-full:SharebasedPaymentArrangementsMember
1040 RSUs Member bldp:RestrictedShareUnitsRSUMember
1041 Disclosure of terms and conditions of share-based payment arrangement [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTermsAndConditionsOfSharebasedPaymentArrangementLineItems
1042 Balance at (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1043 Granted (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsGranted
1044 RSU performance factor adjustment (in shares) Concept (Shares) For Period bldp:NumberOfInstrumentsOtherEquityInstrumentsPerformanceFactorAdjustment
1045 Exercised (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsExercisedOrVestedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1046 Forfeited (in shares) Concept (Decimal) For Period ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsForfeitedInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1047 Balance at (in shares) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:NumberOfOtherEquityInstrumentsOutstandingInSharebasedPaymentArrangement
1048 2458402 - Disclosure - Operating leases (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/OperatingLeasesDetails
1049 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeTable
1050 Classes of assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsAxis
1051 Assets [member] Member ifrs-full:ClassesOfAssetsMember
1052 Facility as an operating lease Member bldp:BuildingUnderOperatingLeaseMember
1053 Maturity [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MaturityAxis
1054 Aggregated time bands [member] Member ifrs-full:AggregatedTimeBandsMember
1055 Less than 1 year Member ifrs-full:NotLaterThanOneYearMember
1056 1-3 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanOneYearAndNotLaterThanThreeYearsMember
1057 4-5 years Member ifrs-full:LaterThanThreeYearsAndNotLaterThanFiveYearsMember
1058 Thereafter Member ifrs-full:LaterThanFiveYearsMember
1059 Disclosure of finance lease and operating lease by lessee [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfFinanceLeaseAndOperatingLeaseByLesseeLineItems
1060 Lease and sublease payments recognised as expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:LeaseAndSubleasePaymentsRecognisedAsExpense
1061 Payments under operating lease Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:MinimumLeasePaymentsPayableUnderNoncancellableOperatingLease
1062 2461401 - Disclosure - Commitments and contingencies (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails
1063 Disclosure of other provisions [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsTable
1064 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
1065 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
1066 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
1067 Classes of other provisions [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfProvisionsAxis
1068 Other provisions [member] Member ifrs-full:OtherProvisionsMember
1069 Royalty related to UTC, revenue obligations Member bldp:ProvisionRelatedToIntellectualPropertyPurchaseMember
1070 Royalty of other revenue obligations Member ifrs-full:MiscellaneousOtherProvisionsMember
1071 Disclosure of other provisions [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfOtherProvisionsLineItems
1072 Royalty obligation on future sale of intellectual property, percentage Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:SaleOfIntellectualPropertyObligationPercentage
1073 Expiration period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:IntellectualPropertyTerm
1074 Royalty obligation, percentage Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:RoyaltyObligationContingentPercentage
1075 Maximum royalty expense Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit bldp:RoyaltyObligationContingentMaximumAmount
1076 Royalty expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:RoyaltyExpense
1077 Capital commitments Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit ifrs-full:CapitalCommitments
1078 Cash contribution term Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:JointVentureCashContributionsTerm
1079 Number of claims remaining Concept (Integer) For Period bldp:NumberOfClaimsRemaining
1080 2464402 - Disclosure - Disaggregation of revenue (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/DisaggregationOfRevenueDetails
1081 Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDisaggregationOfRevenueFromContractsWithCustomersTable
1082 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1083 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
1084 China Member country:CN
1085 Europe Member bldp:EUROPE1Member
1086 North America Member bldp:NorthAmerica1Member
1087 Other Member bldp:OtherGeographicalAreasMember
1088 Products and services [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ProductsAndServicesAxis
1089 Products and services [member] Member ifrs-full:ProductsAndServicesMember
1090 Heavy Duty Motive Member bldp:HeavyDutyMotiveMember
1091 Portable Power Member bldp:PortablePowerMember
1092 Material Handling Member bldp:MaterialHandlingMember
1093 Back Up Power Member bldp:BackUpPowerMember
1094 Technology Solutions Member bldp:TechnologySolutionsMember
1095 Timing of transfer of goods or services [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TimingOfTransferOfGoodsOrServicesAxis
1096 Timing of transfer of goods or services [member] Member ifrs-full:TimingOfTransferOfGoodsOrServicesMember
1097 Products transferred at a point in time Member ifrs-full:GoodsOrServicesTransferredAtPointInTimeMember
1098 Products and services transferred over time Member ifrs-full:GoodsOrServicesTransferredOverTimeMember
1099 Disclosure of disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfDisaggregationOfRevenueFromContractsWithCustomersLineItems
1100 Revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RevenueFromContractsWithCustomers
1101 2467402 - Disclosure - Personnel expenses (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/PersonnelExpensesDetails
1102 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1103 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
1104 Salaries and employee benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ShorttermEmployeeBenefitsExpense
1105 Share-based compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseFromSharebasedPaymentTransactionsWithEmployees
1106 Personnel expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:EmployeeBenefitsExpense
1107 2470402 - Disclosure - Other operating expense (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/OtherOperatingExpenseDetails
1108 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1109 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
1110 Net impairment loss on trade receivables Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossReversalOfImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossTradeReceivables
1111 Restructuring expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ExpenseOfRestructuringActivities
1112 Other operating expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:MiscellaneousOtherOperatingExpense
1113 Impairment loss on trade receivables Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossTradeReceivables
1114 Impairment recoveries Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ReversalOfImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossTradeReceivables
1115 Number of positions eliminated Concept (Integer) For Period bldp:RestructuringandRelatedCostNumberofPositionsEliminated1
1116 Number of executive positions eliminated Concept (Integer) For Period bldp:RestructuringandRelatedCostNumberofExecutivePositionsEliminated
1117 2473402 - Disclosure - Finance income and expense (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinanceIncomeAndExpenseDetails
1118 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1119 Analysis of income and expense [abstract] Abstract ifrs-full:AnalysisOfIncomeAndExpenseAbstract
1120 Employee future benefit plan expense (note 19) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:PostemploymentBenefitExpenseDefinedBenefitPlans
1121 Pension administration expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:PensionAdministrativeExpense
1122 Investment and other income Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:InvestmentIncome
1123 Other income (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:OtherFinanceIncomeCost
1124 Foreign exchange gain (loss) Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainsLossesOnExchangeDifferencesOnTranslationRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
1125 Finance income (loss) and other Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:FinanceIncome
1126 Finance expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:FinanceCosts
1127 2476402 - Disclosure - Loss on sale of assets - Gain (loss) on sale of assets and proceeds from sale (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/LossOnSaleOfAssetsGainLossOnSaleOfAssetsAndProceedsFromSaleDetails
1128 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Table] Table

*

*

 bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsTable
1129 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
1130 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
1131 Power Manager assets Member bldp:PowerManagerAssetsMember
1132 SOFC assets Member bldp:SOFCAssetsMember
1133 Telecom backup power assets Member bldp:TelecomBackupPowerAssetsMember
1134 Miscellaneous disposals Member ifrs-full:OtherDisposalsOfAssetsMember
1135 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Line Items] LineItems bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsLineItems
1136 Gain (loss) on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainLossRecognisedOnMeasurementToFairValueLessCostsToSellOrOnDisposalOfAssetsOrDisposalGroupsConstitutingDiscontinuedOperation
1137 Cash proceeds received on sale Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ConsiderationPaidReceived
1138 Less: Disposition costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:DispositionCostsOnSaleOfNonCurrentAssets
1139 Net proceeds Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ProceedsFromDisposalOfNoncurrentAssetsOrDisposalGroupsClassifiedAsHeldForSaleAndDiscontinuedOperations
1140 2476403 - Disclosure - Loss on sale of assets - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/LossOnSaleOfAssetsNarrativeDetails
1141 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Table] Table

*

*

 bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsTable
1142 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
1143 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
1144 Power Manager assets Member bldp:PowerManagerAssetsMember
1145 SOFC assets Member bldp:SOFCAssetsMember
1146 Telecom backup power assets Member bldp:TelecomBackupPowerAssetsMember
1147 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Line Items] LineItems bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsLineItems
1148 Cash proceeds received Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:PortionOfConsiderationPaidReceivedConsistingOfCashAndCashEquivalents
1149 Note receivable Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:FairValueOfNotesReceivable
1150 Maximum possible earn-out amount Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:PotentialEarnOutOnSaleOfAssetsMaximum
1151 Earn-out period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:EarnOutPeriod
1152 Loss on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainLossRecognisedOnMeasurementToFairValueLessCostsToSellOrOnDisposalOfAssetsOrDisposalGroupsConstitutingDiscontinuedOperation
1153 Proceeds receivable Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:EarnoutReceivableOnSaleOfAssets
1154 Cash proceeds received on sale Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ConsiderationPaidReceived
1155 Estimated fair value of earn-out payments Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:FairValueOfEarnOutPayments
1156 2476404 - Disclosure - Loss on sale of assets - Schedule of sale of assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/LossOnSaleOfAssetsScheduleOfSaleOfAssetsDetails
1157 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Table] Table

*

*

 bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsTable
1158 Disposal Group Name [Axis] Axis bldp:DisposalGroupNameAxis
1159 Disposal Group Name [Domain] Member bldp:DisposalGroupNameDomain
1160 Power Manager assets Member bldp:PowerManagerAssetsMember
1161 Disclosure on Sale of Assets [Line Items] LineItems bldp:DisclosureonSaleofAssetsLineItems
1162 Cash proceeds received in 2018 Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:ConsiderationPaidReceived
1163 Note receivable as of December 31, 2018 Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:FairValueOfNotesReceivable
1164 Proceeds receivable (constrained estimate of earn-out payments) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:EarnoutReceivableOnSaleOfAssets
1165 Total proceeds Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:ConsiderationPaidReceivedRemainingPurchasePrice
1166 Less: Disposition costs Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:DispositionCostsOnSaleOfNonCurrentAssets
1167 Net proceeds Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:ConsiderationPaidReceivedRemainingPurchasePriceNetOfDispositionCosts
1168 Less: Net book value of disposed assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:NetAssetsLiabilities
1169 Loss on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:GainLossRecognisedOnMeasurementToFairValueLessCostsToSellOrOnDisposalOfAssetsOrDisposalGroupsConstitutingDiscontinuedOperation
1170 2479401 - Disclosure - Impairment charges on intangible assets and property, plant and equipment (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/ImpairmentChargesOnIntangibleAssetsAndPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDetails
1171 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1172 Impairment of Assets [Abstract] Abstract bldp:ImpairmentofAssetsAbstract
1173 Impairment loss Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLoss
1174 Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss, intangible assets other than goodwill Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossIntangibleAssetsOtherThanGoodwill
1175 Impairment loss recognised in profit or loss, property, plant and equipment Concept (Monetary) For Period ifrs-full:ImpairmentLossRecognisedInProfitOrLossPropertyPlantAndEquipment
1176 Fair value of property, plant and equipment materially different from carrying amount Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FairValueOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentMateriallyDifferentFromCarryingAmount
1177 2482402 - Disclosure - Income taxes - Current Tax Expense (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IncomeTaxesCurrentTaxExpenseDetails
1178 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1179 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract bldp:IncomeTaxesAbstract
1180 Current period income tax Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentTaxExpenseIncome
1181 Withholding tax Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:WithholdingTax
1182 Total current tax expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:CurrentTaxExpenseIncomeAndAdjustmentsForCurrentTaxOfPriorPeriods
1183 Origination and reversal of temporary differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeRelatingToOriginationAndReversalOfTemporaryDifferences
1184 Adjustments for prior periods Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:AdjustmentsForDeferredTaxOfPriorPeriods
1185 Change in unrecognized deductible temporary differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:ChangeInUnrecognizedDeductibleTemporaryDifferences
1186 Total deferred tax expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:DeferredTaxExpenseIncomeAndAdjustmentsForDeferredTaxOfPriorPeriods
1187 Total income tax expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
1188 2482403 - Disclosure - Income taxes - Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IncomeTaxesTaxRateReconciliationDetails
1189 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1190 Income Taxes [Abstract] Abstract bldp:IncomeTaxesAbstract
1191 Applicable tax rate Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ApplicableTaxRate
1192 Net loss before income taxes Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:AccountingProfit
1193 Expected tax recovery at 27.00% (2017 – 26.00%) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxExpenseIncomeAtApplicableTaxRate
1194 Non-deductible expenses Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxEffectOfExpenseNotDeductibleInDeterminingTaxableProfitTaxLoss
1195 Investment tax credits earned Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit bldp:TaxEffectOfTaxCreditsEarned
1196 Foreign tax rate differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:TaxEffectOfForeignTaxRates
1197 Change in unrecognized deductible temporary differences Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:TaxEffectOfChangeInUnrecognizedDeductibleTemporaryDifferences
1198 Other Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:TaxEffectOther
1199 Total income tax expense Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:IncomeTaxExpenseContinuingOperations
1200 2482404 - Disclosure - Income taxes - Unrecognized Deferred Tax Assets (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/IncomeTaxesUnrecognizedDeferredTaxAssetsDetails
1201 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsTable
1202 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsAxis
1203 Temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [member] Member ifrs-full:TemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsMember
1204 Scientific research expenditures Member bldp:ScientificResearchExpendituresMember
1205 Accrued warranty provision Member bldp:AccruedWarrantyProvisionMember
1206 Share issuance costs Member bldp:ShareIssuanceCostsMember
1207 Losses from operations carried forward Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxLossesMember
1208 Investment tax credits Member ifrs-full:UnusedTaxCreditsMember
1209 Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets Member bldp:PropertyPlantandEquipmentAndIntangibleAssetsMember
1210 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1211 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
1212 Canada Member country:CA
1213 Germany Member country:DE
1214 U.S. Member country:US
1215 Denmark Member country:DK
1216 Hong Kong Member country:HK
1217 Disclosure of temporary difference, unused tax losses and unused tax credits [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTemporaryDifferenceUnusedTaxLossesAndUnusedTaxCreditsLineItems
1218 Deductible temporary differences for which no deferred tax asset is recognised Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:DeductibleTemporaryDifferencesForWhichNoDeferredTaxAssetIsRecognised
1219 Deferred tax assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:DeferredTaxAssets
1220 2485402 - Disclosure - Related party transactions - Transactions with Related Parties (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsTransactionsWithRelatedPartiesDetails
1221 Disclosure of transactions between related parties [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesTable
1222 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
1223 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
1224 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
1225 Joint ventures [axis] Axis ifrs-full:JointVenturesAxis
1226 Entity's total for joint ventures [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForJointVenturesMember
1227 Synergy Ballard JVCo Member bldp:SynergyJVMember
1228 Categories of related parties [axis] Axis ifrs-full:CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis
1229 Entity's total for related parties [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForRelatedPartiesMember
1230 Associates Member ifrs-full:AssociatesMember
1231 Joint venture Member ifrs-full:JointVenturesWhereEntityIsVenturerMember
1232 Disclosure of transactions between related parties [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfTransactionsBetweenRelatedPartiesLineItems
1233 Percentage ownership interest Concept (Percent) For Period ifrs-full:ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInJointVenture
1234 Trade and other receivables Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:AmountsReceivableRelatedPartyTransactions
1235 Investments Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit bldp:InvestmentsRelatedPartyTransactions
1236 Deferred revenue Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:ContractLiabilitiesRelatedPartyTransactions
1237 Revenues Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RevenueFromRenderingOfServicesRelatedPartyTransactions
1238 2485403 - Disclosure - Related party transactions - Key Management Compensation (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactionsKeyManagementCompensationDetails
1239 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1240 Related Party [Abstract] Abstract bldp:RelatedPartyAbstract
1241 Maximum obligation, notice period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationMaximumObligationNoticePeriod
1242 Maximum obligation, notice period per each year Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationMaximumObligationNoticePeriodPerEachYear
1243 Number of years due to change in control Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationNumberOfYearsDueToChangeInControl
1244 Payment equivalent period Concept (xbrli:durationItemType) For Period bldp:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationDueToChangeInControlPaymentEquivalentPeriod
1245 Salaries and employee benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationShorttermEmployeeBenefits
1246 Post-employment retirement benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationPostemploymentBenefits
1247 Termination benefits Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationTerminationBenefits
1248 Share-based compensation (note 20) Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensationSharebasedPayment
1249 Key management personnel compensation Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit ifrs-full:KeyManagementPersonnelCompensation
1250 2488402 - Disclosure - Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/SupplementalDisclosureOfCashFlowInformationDetails
1251 Implied Table Table

*

*

 implied:Table
1252 Cash Flow Statement [Abstract] Abstract bldp:CashFlowStatementAbstract
1253 Compensatory shares Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:Noncashcompensatoryshares
1254 Constrained earn-out receivable on sale of assets Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:EarnoutReceivableOnSaleOfAssets
1255 2491402 - Disclosure - Operating segments - Narrative (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/OperatingSegmentsNarrativeDetails
1256 Disclosure of major customers [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfMajorCustomersTable
1257 Major customers [axis] Axis ifrs-full:MajorCustomersAxis
1258 Customers [member] Member ifrs-full:MajorCustomersMember
1259 Individual customer Member bldp:CustomerOneMember
1260 Individual customer Member bldp:CustomerTwoMember
1261 Individual customer Member bldp:CustomerThreeMember
1262 Disclosure of major customers [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfMajorCustomersLineItems
1263 Revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RevenueFromContractsWithCustomers
1264 2491403 - Disclosure - Operating segments - Geographical (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/OperatingSegmentsGeographicalDetails
1265 Disclosure of geographical areas [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfGeographicalAreasTable
1266 Geographical areas [axis] Axis ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasAxis
1267 Geographical areas [member] Member ifrs-full:GeographicalAreasMember
1268 China Member country:CN
1269 Germany Member country:DE
1270 U.S. Member country:US
1271 Japan Member country:JP
1272 Belgium Member country:BE
1273 Denmark Member country:DK
1274 UK Member country:GB
1275 Netherlands Member country:NL
1276 Canada Member country:CA
1277 Taiwan Member country:TW
1278 France Member country:FR
1279 Poland Member country:PL
1280 Finland Member country:FI
1281 Norway Member country:NO
1282 Spain Member country:ES
1283 Other countries Member bldp:OtherCountriesMember
1284 Disclosure of geographical areas [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfGeographicalAreasLineItems
1285 Revenue Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:RevenueFromContractsWithCustomers
1286 Non-current assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:NoncurrentAssetsOtherThanFinancialInstrumentsDeferredTaxAssetsPostemploymentBenefitAssetsAndRightsArisingUnderInsuranceContracts
1287 2497402 - Disclosure - Financial instruments (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsDetails
1288 Disclosure of nature and extent of risks arising from financial instruments [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNatureAndExtentOfRisksArisingFromFinancialInstrumentsTable
1289 Classes of financial assets [axis] Axis ifrs-full:ClassesOfFinancialAssetsAxis
1290 Financial assets, class [member] Member ifrs-full:FinancialAssetsMember
1291 Cash and cash equivalents Member bldp:CashAndCashEquivalents1Member
1292 Foreign exchange contracts Member ifrs-full:CurrencySwapContractMember
1293 Forward platinum contract Member ifrs-full:ForwardContractMember
1294 Types of risks [axis] Axis ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksAxis
1295 Risks [member] Member ifrs-full:TypesOfRisksMember
1296 Currency risk Member ifrs-full:CurrencyRiskMember
1297 Commodity risk Member ifrs-full:CommodityPriceRiskMember
1298 Interest rate risk Member ifrs-full:InterestRateRiskMember
1299 Disclosure of nature and extent of risks arising from financial instruments [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNatureAndExtentOfRisksArisingFromFinancialInstrumentsLineItems
1300 Exposure to risk holding Canadian denominated cash and cash equivalents, percentage (up to) Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:RiskExposureAssociatedWithInstrumentsSharingCharacteristicConcentrationPercentageCashAndCashEquivalentsMaximum
1301 Exposure to risk holding Canadian dollar net expenditures, percentage (up to) Concept (Percent) For Period bldp:RiskExposureAssociatedWithInstrumentsSharingCharacteristicConcentrationPercentageNetExpendituresMaximum
1302 Risk exposure associated with instruments sharing characteristic Concept (Monetary) As Of ifrs-full:RiskExposureAssociatedWithInstrumentsSharingCharacteristic
1303 Average price of hedging instrument (CDN per USD) Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:AveragePriceOfHedgingInstrument
1304 January 1, 2018 Opening rate Concept (Decimal) As Of bldp:PriceofForeignExchangeOpeningPrice
1305 December 31, 2018 Closing rate Concept (Decimal) As Of ifrs-full:ClosingForeignExchangeRate
1306 Fiscal 2018 Average rate Concept (Decimal) For Period bldp:AveragePriceForeignExchangeRate
1307 Increase in the corresponding risk variable on income Concept (Monetary) For Period Debit bldp:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariableImpactOnIncome
1308 Reasonably possible change in risk variable, percent Concept (Percent) As Of bldp:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariablePercent
1309 Financial assets Concept (Monetary) As Of Debit ifrs-full:FinancialAssets
1310 Decrease in the corresponding risk variable on investment income Concept (Monetary) As Of Credit bldp:SensitivityAnalysisForTypesOfMarketRiskReasonablyPossibleChangeInRiskVariableInvestmentIncome
1311 2498401 - Disclosure - Subsequent Event (Details) Network

*

*

 http://www.ballard.com/role/SubsequentEventDetails
1312 Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [table] Table

*

*

 ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodTable
1313 Associates [axis] Axis ifrs-full:SignificantInvestmentsInAssociatesAxis
1314 Entity's total for associates [member] Member ifrs-full:EntitysTotalForAssociatesMember
1315 Weichai Ballard JV Member bldp:WeichaiBallardAssociateMember
1316 Non-adjusting events after reporting period [axis] Axis ifrs-full:NonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodAxis
1317 Non-adjusting events after reporting period [member] Member ifrs-full:NonadjustingEventsMember
1318 Capital Contribution Member bldp:CapitalContributionMember
1319 Disclosure of non-adjusting events after reporting period [line items] LineItems ifrs-full:DisclosureOfNonadjustingEventsAfterReportingPeriodLineItems
1320 Capital contribution Concept (Monetary) For Period Credit ifrs-full:CashFlowsUsedInObtainingControlOfSubsidiariesOrOtherBusinessesClassifiedAsInvestingActivities

*

*