Here is a great link for a good read on the Victoria / Upholder submarines. Covers a lot of detail from the politics, payment plan, and specifications of the boats themselves.
I had known about the possibility of an AIP system that would permit under ice operations. Didn't know it was from Ballard and a fuel cell though. Unfortunately, since we can't seem to even make it across blue water ocean, perhaps going under Arctic ice is a little ambitious right now... 6 kts only though... better hope a Russian Akula doesn't steamroller you at 35 kts.
The article's quite good, but fails to take into consideration the possibilty of the boats being lemons, like they appear to be now... Then again, I seem to remember reading an article where UK Thales techncians claim that Canadian Navy submariners had no clue what they were doing and the root cause of all these problems.
Great read on the Subs