Another One Bites the Dust: Aberdeen’s Hydrogen Bus Fleet Ends In Failure - CleanTechnica

Aberdeen’s experiment with a fleet of 25 hydrogen double-decker buses, once hailed as a pioneering step in clean transport and a foundation for a local hydrogen economy, has ended in failure. Despite initial optimism and significant investment—including an £8.3 million program supported by the Scottish Government and EU funding, plus an additional £4.5 million award—the buses faced mixed operational performance and infrastructure challenges. The council has decided to retire and attempt to sell the fleet, but the prospects for recouping capital are low due to the lack of a robust secondary market for hydrogen buses. These vehicles require specialized refueling infrastructure, maintenance expertise, and supply contracts, limiting potential buyers to operators already equipped for hydrogen technology or willing to invest heavily for a small, aging fleet. The hydrogen double-decker market remains niche and stagnant, with limited deployment primarily involving the Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner in Aberdeen, London, and Northern Ireland. London, after an initial batch likely influenced by political factors, has