Summary
- CUTRIC is pushing for hydrogen buses in Canadian transit agencies despite the failures experienced by other transit agencies globally
- There are conflicts of interest within CUTRIC’s Board of Directors and membership, leading to skewed results in favor of hydrogen buses
- Mississauga is proceeding with a hydrogen bus trial despite questions about the cost, reliability, and environmental impact of hydrogen fuel
- CUTRIC’s presentation to Mississauga City Council lacked substantive content and failed to address key issues and risks related to the hydrogen bus trial
- The credibility of CUTRIC as an advisory agency for transit decarbonization is questioned due to its flawed modeling, conflicts of interest, and lack of expertise
Article
The Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) has been under scrutiny for its push towards hydrogen buses in Canada. Despite the lack of merit in the Mississauga hydrogen bus trial, CUTRIC’s founder, Josipa Petrunic, is continuing to advocate for hydrogen buses. Questions have been raised about the reliability and cost of hydrogen fuel, as well as the comparison between hydrogen, battery-electric, and diesel buses. Concerns have been raised about CUTRIC’s conflicts of interest with companies pushing for hydrogen solutions.
CUTRIC has been criticized for using inaccurate information and flawed modeling to promote hydrogen buses. The organization’s Board of Directors and membership have deep conflicts of interest, with companies like Enbridge, Ballard Power, and New Flyer having a vested interest in hydrogen solutions. The way CUTRIC has approached studies and procurement processes has raised concerns about skewed results and questionable practices.
The Mississauga hydrogen bus trial is proceeding, despite the challenges and uncertainties surrounding hydrogen as a fuel source. The operational risks and issues with hydrogen buses, such as leakage and maintenance costs, have been highlighted. Concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of hydrogen buses and the effectiveness of hydrogen as a low-carbon solution compared to battery-electric alternatives.
CUTRIC’s presentation to Mississauga City Council lacked substantial information and failed to address key issues regarding the hydrogen bus trial. The organization’s responses to misinformation were deemed inadequate and misleading. The presentation lacked detailed technical updates, schedules, costs, issues, and risks associated with the trial, raising doubts about the validity of the hydrogen bus project.
Critics, including experts like Michael Raynor and Paul Martin, have questioned CUTRIC’s expertise and conflicts of interest. The organization’s track record and governance issues have cast doubts on its credibility and reliability in providing guidance to transit agencies. Concerns about financial challenges faced by companies like Ballard Power and New Flyer, who are key players in the hydrogen bus market, further highlight the uncertainties surrounding hydrogen as a viable solution for decarbonizing transit.
Overall, the push for hydrogen buses by CUTRIC and its partners has raised significant concerns about the transparency, reliability, and effectiveness of hydrogen as a low-carbon transportation solution. The Mississauga hydrogen bus trial serves as a case study for the challenges and complexities involved in transitioning to cleaner transportation technologies. With conflicting interests, flawed modeling, and lack of substantive data, the future of hydrogen buses in Canada remains uncertain.
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