Summary
- Many hydrogen bus trials globally have failed due to high capital and maintenance costs, long refueling times, and operational complexities
- Cities like Vancouver, Ottawa, Oslo, and Wiesbaden have abandoned their hydrogen bus trials in favor of battery electric buses due to cost-effectiveness and operational challenges
- Hydrogen buses have been found to be more expensive to buy, operate, and maintain compared to battery electric and diesel buses
- Extenuating circumstances such as government funding, lobbying, and hydrogen enthusiasts have kept some hydrogen bus fleets operational despite high costs and challenges
- Many transit organizations have learned from the failures of hydrogen bus trials and have decided against continuing with hydrogen buses, opting for simpler and more cost-effective technologies for decarbonization.
Article
In recent days, research by a Canadian transit think tank revealed that $1.5 billion had been overestimated in hydrogen bus costs due to bad assumptions and scenarios. This led to a discussion on the failures of hydrogen bus trials globally. Examples included Vancouver and Chicago trials from the early 2000s, where high capital costs, maintenance costs, and long refueling times led to their abandonment. Other failed trials included Whistler, BC, Oslo, Norway, and San Remo, Italy, with many cities opting for battery electric buses instead.
In more recent years, trials in places like Pau, France, Wiesbaden, Germany, and London showed that running hydrogen buses was significantly more expensive than battery electric buses. Operational complexities, high infrastructure costs, and maintenance issues were common problems faced by cities that tried hydrogen buses. Many cities, like Vienna, Austria, and Palma, Spain, initially canceled hydrogen bus orders but eventually reconsidered, indicating a cycle of repeating the same mistakes without learning from past failures.
In 2023, a hydrogen fuel cell bus in Bakersfield, California, caught fire during refueling, highlighting the dangers and expenses associated with hydrogen buses. Similar issues were seen in Liverpool and South Tyrol, Italy, where hydrogen buses were shown to cost significantly more to operate than electric buses. Leaks, maintenance issues, and high costs of producing and storing hydrogen were recurring challenges faced by cities using hydrogen buses.
Despite these failures, some cities like Aberdeen, Foshan, and Essen continue to invest in hydrogen transportation due to governmental support, lobbying efforts, or economic incentives. However, the majority of transit organizations that have tried hydrogen buses have either abandoned them or opted for simpler, more cost-effective solutions like battery electric buses. Vancouver, home to Ballard Power, a hydrogen technology firm, has learned from past failures and decided not to conduct any more hydrogen bus trials.
Overall, the history of hydrogen bus trials globally has been marked by failures, high costs, and operational challenges. The experiences of various cities underscore the need for thorough cost-benefit analysis before investing in hydrogen buses. The shift towards simpler and more reliable technologies like battery electric buses seems to be the preferred choice for many transit agencies looking to decarbonize their fleets. Lessons from past hydrogen bus failures should be heeded to avoid costly mistakes and ensure a smooth transition to cleaner transportation options.
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