Fuel cell bus

Owing to the greenhouse gas emissions and particulate pollution produced by diesel buses, transport operators have been moving towards greener and cleaner buses (such as hybrid electric buses and battery electric buses) since the early 2000s.{{Cite web |last=Mike |first=Long Branch |date=2021-01-26 |title=The Second Coming of Hydrogen? London's hydrogen buses |url=https://www.londonreconnections.com/2021/the-second-coming-of-hydrogen-londons-hydrogen-buses/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=London Reconnections |language=en-GB}} However, battery electric buses lack range compared to diesel buses, take time to charge and have reduced energy storage in cold weather.{{Cite web |title=Bus Transit - Fuel Cell Electric Buses |url=https://www.ballard.com/markets/transit-bus |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Ballard Power}}

Transport operators have therefore evaluated alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cell buses. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, the by-product of which is water. This electricity is used as a power source for an electric motor, which drives the wheels of the bus.{{Cite news |date=2021-06-23 |title=England's first double-decker hydrogen buses to launch in London |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57578043 |access-date=2021-08-14}} Some companies have proposed using the fuel cell as a range extender, combining it with a larger battery or a supercapacitor.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-05 |title=Hamburg to test the eCitaro with fuel cell range extender in 2021 |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/hamburg-to-test-the-ecitaro-with-fuel-cell-range-extender-in-2021/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} Hydrogen has a higher energy density than lithium batteries, making it suitable for heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks.{{Cite news |date=2021-07-23 |title=High costs dog Tokyo's hydrogen buses |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2b9dd655-6b64-416c-a83f-1fe1002da7d5 |access-date=2023-01-07}}

The provenance of hydrogen fuel varies – with green hydrogen (produced using renewable electricity) being significantly more environmentally friendly than brown hydrogen (produced by burning coal or lignite) or grey hydrogen (produced by steam heating natural gas).{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-02 |title=Why is Santa Cruz County so bullish on hydrogen-powered public transit? |url=http://lookout.co/hydrogen-powered-public-transit-why-is-santa-cruz-county-so-bullish/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Lookout Santa Cruz |language=en-US |quote=hydrogen is considered “brown hydrogen” because of the carbon footprint left by producing the fuel, which is made almost entirely by natural gas. Green hydrogen, which is hydrogen fuel produced and delivered with zero emissions, remains cost-prohibitive.}}{{Cite web |last=Rapier |first=Robert |date=26 May 2020 |title=Life Cycles of Hydrogen |url=https://4thgeneration.energy/life-cycles-emissions-of-hydrogen/ |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=4thgeneration.energy |quote=hydrogen’s “dirty secret” is that it comes primarily from fossil fuels.}}

From the late 1980s, concern regarding diesel emissions from buses led to experimentation regarding the use of fuel cells to power vehicles. Initial proof of concept work involved demonstrating that fuel cells could be packaged into a bus, and successfully power one.{{Cite web |last1=Eudy |first1=L |last2=Chandler |first2=K |last3=Gikakis |first3=C |date=September 2007 |title=Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Summary of Experiences and Current Status |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41967.pdf |access-date=1 November 2022 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory |pages=1–2}} Between 1994 and 1995, the Georgetown Fuel Cell Bus Program (led by Georgetown University and the United States Department of Energy) demonstrated three {{Convert|30|ft}} buses powered by a phosphoric acid fuel cell from Fuji Electric.{{Cite journal |last=Larkins |first=James T. |date=1998-10-01 |title=Fuel cell powered transit bus development activities at Georgetown University |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1464285900875513 |journal=Fuel Cells Bulletin |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=6–8 |doi=10.1016/S1464-2859(00)87551-3 |issn=1464-2859|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite news |last=Wald |first=Matthew L. |date=1994-05-29 |title=Technology; An Electric Bus Bypasses a Battery Barrier |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/29/business/technology-an-electric-bus-bypasses-a-battery-barrier.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |issn=0362-4331}} File:TOYOTA FCHV Bus.jpg at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan in 2005]]

From the late 1990s, hydrogen-powered fuel-cell buses were trialled and experimented in a variety of cities. In 1998, Chicago and Vancouver began trials, using New Flyer Industries bus bodies and Ballard Power Systems hydrogen fuel cells.{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Mark |date=25 December 1995 |title=The magic bus |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1995/12/25/the-magic-bus |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Maclean's |language=en-US}} The three-year trial carried more than 200,000 passengers and travelled over {{convert|118,000|km|mi|sp=us}}.

From 2000, Hino and Toyota collaborated on the development of FCHV-BUS, a hydrogen fuel cell bus.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2001 |title=Toyota Jointly Develops Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus, the FCHV-BUS |url=https://global.toyota/en/detail/211744 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Toyota Motor Corporation}} After initial trials by Toei Bus in 2003, a fleet of 8 FCHV-BUS buses were then used at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.{{Cite web |date=2005 |title=Fuel cell hybrid bus : EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN |url=http://www.expo2005.or.jp/en/technology/fchv.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Expo 2005}} During the Expo, they carried one million visitors and travelled about 130,000 kilometres. The buses were subsequently used as airport shuttle buses.

In the United States, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) in the United States has been undertaking research work on hydrogen fuel cell buses since 2000, in collaboration with the Federal Transit Administration.{{Cite web |title=Fuel Cell Electric Bus Evaluations |url=https://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/fuel-cell-bus-evaluation.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory |language=en}} AC Transit in the San Francisco Bay Area began trials of a hydrogen fuel cell bus in 2002.{{Cite web |title=Zero Emission Buses |url=https://www.actransit.org/zeb |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District |quote=Our first hydrogen fueling facility was opened in November of 2002 at our Richmond Division to operate a single 30-foot fuel cell electric bus.}}

File:London-fuel-cell-bus-route25.jpg at Stratford, London in 2004]]

From 2001, the European Union supported research project Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) began running hydrogen fuel cell powered buses in nine European cities, including London, Madrid and Hamburg.Vidueira, J.M.; Contreras, A.; Veziroglu, T.N. "PV autonomous installation to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, and its use in FC buses", International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. Sep2003, Vol. 28 Issue 9, p927. 11p. DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00191-X The project was supported by a consortium of transportation operators, hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell developers, universities and city authorities.{{Cite web |title=Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Buses – Policies |url=https://www.iea.org/policies/3735-clean-urban-transport-for-europe-cute-hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-buses |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}} Three other cities – Reykjavík, Beijing and Perth – took part in similar demonstration projects, supported by the same consortium.{{Cite web |date=21 June 2006 |title=First clean fuel buses running on Beijing roads |url=http://www.gov.cn/english/2006-06/21/content_316521.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504140010/http://www.gov.cn/english/2006-06/21/content_316521.htm |archive-date=2011-05-04 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Gov.cn}} The Fuel Cell Bus Club became a forum to share experiences and information between cities and researchers.{{Cite web |last=Adamson |first=Kerry-Ann |date=November 2004 |title=Fuel Cell Market Survey: Buses |url=http://www.accepth2.com/guidelines/docs/Paper_Fuel-Cell-Today_041201_Fuel-Cell-Bus-Market-Survey.pdf |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=Fuel Cell Today}}

All three projects used Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses, with hydrogen fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems. At the time they claimed to be the largest fleet of fuel cell buses in the world. The buses were estimated to cost US$1.2 million each and had a range of {{Convert|300|km|mi|sigfig=1}} and carried around 70 passengers.{{cite web |title=European Fuel Cell Bus Project Extended by One Year |url=http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0-5-7153-1-596003-1-0-0-0-0-0-8-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083839/http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0-5-7153-1-596003-1-0-0-0-0-0-8-7145-0-0-0-0-0-0-1.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=31 March 2007 |publisher=DaimlerChrysler}}

Completed in 2007, the projects were deemed a success by researchers.Kris Christen. "Europe's CUTE project for hydrogen-fuel-cell buses deemed a success", Environmental Science & Technology. 8/1/2006, Vol. 40 Issue 15, p4541-4541."Conference wraps up CUTE, next programs", Fuel Cells Bulletin. Jul2006, Vol. 2006 Issue 7, p10-10. 1p. DOI: 10.1016/S1464-2859(06)71128-2. However, the buses were criticised by some operators for their high cost of operation, with Madrid reporting that they were around ten times as costly to fuel.{{Cite web |last=Dodson |first=Sean |date=2003-10-30 |title=All aboard the hydrogen bus |url=http://www.theguardian.com/science/2003/oct/30/research.science1 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Dedicated hydrogen filling stations were also required to be built. The buses in Beijing – the first fuel cell buses in China – were withdrawn after one year, as air pollution reduced the efficiency and operating life of the fuel cells.{{Cite web |last=杨裕生 |date=20 March 2013 |title=杨裕生院士：氢燃料电池拯救不了蓝天 |trans-title=Academician Yang Yusheng: Hydrogen fuel cells cannot save the blue sky |url=https://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2013/3/275834.shtm |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=Sciencenet.cn |language=Chinese}}{{Cite web |title=Bronx Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus |url=https://www.empirecleancities.org/ktc.html |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Empire Clean Cities |language=en}}

File:Fuel Cell Bus Project 014.JPG in 2009]]

In 2006, the Federal Transit Administration announced the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program.{{Cite journal |date=2006-12-01 |title=FTA funds commercially viable fuel cell buses |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1464285906712536 |journal=Fuel Cells Bulletin |language=en |volume=2006 |issue=12 |pages=2 |doi=10.1016/S1464-2859(06)71253-6 |issn=1464-2859|url-access=subscription }} $49 million in federal grants would be provided to transit agencies to help develop and test hydrogen fuel cell buses, to improve the potential commercialisation of them.{{Cite journal |last=Hua |first=Thanh |date=June 2014 |title=Status of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Buses Worldwide |journal=Journal of Power Sources|volume=269 |page=975 |doi=10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.06.055 |bibcode=2014JPS...269..975H |doi-access=free }} In 2003, AC Transit introduced a Thor “ThunderPower” bus into trial service, with tests complete by October 2004.{{Cite web |title=AC Transit Bus Roster {{!}} Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District |url=https://www.actransit.org/ac-transit-bus-roster |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.actransit.org}} In 2006, five Van Hool buses powered by UTC Power fuel cells entered service. These were replaced in 2010 by other Van Hool hydrogen fuel cell buses.

In 2009, BC Transit began operating fuel-cell buses in the town of Whistler in British Columbia, prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The fleet of 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses was the largest in the world at the time, with the project costing around $94 million.{{Cite web |date= |title=Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstration Project |url=http://busonline.ca/fuelcell/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704230531/http://busonline.ca/fuelcell/ |archive-date=4 July 2014 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=BC Transit}}{{Cite news |last=Tchir |first=Jason |date=2021-03-10 |title=Boondoggle or boon? Looking back at Whistler's hydrogen-bus pilot and why it failed |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-boondoggle-or-boon-looking-back-at-whistlers-hydrogen-bus-pilot-and/ |access-date=2022-12-08}} Unlike previous projects, the hydrogen used was blue hydrogen, produced by Air Liquide in Quebec using hydroelectricity.{{Cite web |last1=Ludy |first1=L |last2=Post |first2=M |date=September 2014 |title=BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation Results: Second Report |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62317.pdf |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory}} Due to high operating costs, the program halted in 2015.{{Cite web |last=FuelCellsWorks |title=Legacies Of The 2010 Olympic Games In Whistler Are Powering More Than Nostalgia - FuelCellsWorks |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/legacies-of-the-2010-olympic-games-in-whistler-are-powering-more-than-nostalgia/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |language=en-US}}

The first Brazilian hydrogen fuel cell bus prototype began operation in São Paulo in 2009. The hydrogen bus was manufactured in Caxias do Sul. The programme, called "Ônibus Brasileiro a Hidrogênio" (Brazilian Hydrogen Autobus), includes three additional buses.{{cite web |date=2009-04-08 |title=Ônibus brasileiro movido a hidrogênio começa a rodar em São Paulo |trans-title=Brazilian hydrogen-powered bus starts running in São Paulo |url=http://www.inovacaotecnologica.com.br/noticias/noticia.php?artigo=onibus-brasileiro-movido-a-hidrogenio-comeca-a-rodar-em-sao-paulo |access-date=2009-05-03 |publisher=Inovação Tecnológica |language=pt}}

In 2010, eight hydrogen buses were introduced into service in London, with a substantially larger range than the fuel cell buses used in the mid-2000s.{{Cite web |date=2010-12-10 |title=Hydrogen bus launched on London tourist route |url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/dec/10/hydrogen-bus-london |access-date=2021-08-13 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=4 November 2010 |title=RV1 bus route to be converted to hydrogen power |url=http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4919 |access-date=2021-08-13 |website=London SE1 |language=en}} At the time, this was the largest hydrogen bus fleet in Europe.{{Cite web |date=13 November 2007 |title=Mayor announces Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen buses for London |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2007/november/mayor-announces-europes-largest-fleet-of-hydrogen-buses-for-london |access-date=2021-08-13 |website=Transport for London |language=en-GB}} Transport for London acknowledged the high cost of the buses and the high cost in fuelling them, but noted that they "[expected] the costs to drop dramatically" as they become commercially viable.

In China, hydrogen fuel cell buses were used at Beijing 2008, Expo 2010 in Shanghai and the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. These buses were developed by Higer Bus, with 3 deployed at Beijing 2008 and 196 at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.{{Cite web |date=20 January 2009 |title=2nd Generation of Hydrogen Fuel Cell City Bus Debuts in Higer Bus |url=https://www.chinabuses.org/news/2009/0120/article_888.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.chinabuses.org}}{{Cite web |date=10 February 2022 |title=800+ Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses Serve Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games |url=https://www.chinabuses.org/news/2022/0210/article_12698.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.chinabuses.org |quote=Back in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, only 3 units hydrogen fuel cell buses were put into operation. The figure jumped to 196 units in 2010 World Expo held in Shanghai.}}

In March 2015, Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses entered service in Aberdeen, Scotland. 10 Van Hool buses were used on a five-year trial.{{Cite web |last=Holder |first=Michael |date=2015-11-20 |title=Aberdeen hydrogen bus station reaches milestone |url=https://airqualitynews.com/2015/11/20/aberdeen-hydrogen-bus-station-reaches-milestone/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=AirQualityNews |language=en}}

File:Hydrogen fuel cell bus in Daiba 2 (cropped).jpg Toyota Sora in 2023]]

As of 2020, 5,648 hydrogen fuel cell buses are in use around the world, with 93.7% of them in China. Some early adopters of fuel cell buses have opted to focus on battery electric buses, with London having 950 battery electric buses, and 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses in their fleet as of 2023.{{Cite web |date=31 March 2023 |title=Bus fleet audit 31 March 2023 |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/fleet-annual-audit-report-31-march-2023.pdf |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=Transport for London}}

In 2015, Toyota began testing their updated hydrogen fuel cell bus in Tokyo, the Toyota FC Bus. Developed in conjunction with Hino Motors, it utilised technology from the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car, as well as from Hino's hybrid buses. In 2017, Toyota unveiled the Toyota Sora bus,{{Cite web |date=18 October 2017 |title=Toyota Unveils FC Bus Concept "Sora" |url=https://newsroom.toyota.eu/toyota-unveils-fc-bus-concept-sora/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Toyota Newsroom Europe |language=en}} with production beginning in March 2018.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 March 2018 |title=Toyota Launches Production Model "Sora" FC Bus |url=https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/21863761.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Toyota Motor Corporation |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Buckland |first=Kevin |date=2019-09-24 |title=Toyota banking on Olympic halo to keep hydrogen dream alive |language=en-US |work=The Japan Times Online |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/24/business/corporate-business/toyota-banking-olympic-halo-keep-hydrogen-dream-alive/ |access-date=2020-02-14 |issn=0447-5763}} By 2020, over 100 Toyota Sora buses had been delivered, operating on the Tokyo BRT, JR Bus Kanto and Toei Bus.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-26 |title=How Toyota's Beyond Zero fleet drove Tokyo 2020 |url=https://mag.toyota.co.uk/beyond-zero-fleet-drove-olympic-games/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Toyota UK Magazine |language=en-GB}}

In 2018, Toyota announced that they would be supplying their hydrogen fuel cell technology to Portuguese bus manufacturer Caetano, for buses to be sold in Europe.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2022 |title=トヨタ、ポルトガルのバス製造会社カエタノ・バス社に燃料電池システムを供給 |url=https://global.toyota/jp/newsroom/corporate/24694662.html |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=Toyota Motor Corporation |language=Japanese}} The Caetano H2.City Gold has achieved numerous sales, such in Bielefeld,{{cite web |date=13 May 2022 |title=Germany, Bielefeld transport company moBiel starts testing of CaetanoBus hydrogen bus |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/germany-bielefeld-mobiel-test-hydrogen-bus/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=Sustainable Bus}} Cottbus,{{cite web |last1=Hennigfeld |first1=Stefan |date=9 March 2022 |title=Cottbusverkehr testet Brennstoffzelle |url=http://www.zughalt.de/2022/03/cottbusverkehr-testet-brennstoffzelle/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=Eisenbahnjournal Zughalt |language=German}} and Barcelona.{{cite web |last1=Hampel |first1=Carrie |date=30 May 2022 |title=Barcelona puts another 7 hydrogen buses into service |url=https://www.electrive.com/2022/05/30/barcelona-puts-another-7-hydrogen-buses-into-service/ |access-date=13 June 2022 |website=Electrive}} Caetano has subsequently begun to brand the bus as a "Toyota", after Toyota became a majority shareholder.{{Cite web |last=veintiunoaguila |date=2021-07-12 |title=Toyota co-brands zero-emission hydrogen buses with CaetanoBus |url=https://hydrogen-central.com/toyota-zero-emission-hydrogen-buses-caetanobus/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Hydrogen Central |language=en-US}}

In China, the Feichi (Allenbus) company began manufacturing hydrogen fuel cell buses in Yunfu after licensing the fuel cell technology from Ballard. The hydrogen fuel cell is combined with a 36kWh Lithium-ion battery, which powers the electric motors. Over 300 Feichi buses are now in service in the city of Foshan in Guangdong province in China.{{Cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Zhixiang |last2=Kendall |first2=Kevin |last3=Yan |first3=Xieqiang |date=2018-12-25 |title=China Progress on Renewable Energy Vehicles: Fuel Cells, Hydrogen and Battery Hybrid Vehicles |journal=Energies |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=54 |doi=10.3390/en12010054 |issn=1996-1073|doi-access=free }} Other manufacturers in China also began to produce hydrogen fuel cell buses. Zhongtong Bus began a research and development programme in 2014, and began producing buses in 2016.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2022 |title=Zhongtong Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses Set to Helping Cities Cut Carbon Emissions |url=https://www.chinabuses.org/news/2022/0318/article_12728.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.chinabuses.org}}

In 2018, Zhangjiakou ordered 74 hydrogen fuel cell buses in preparation for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-05 |title=Largest Chinese Fuel Cell Bus Order Issued for 2022 Winter Olympics |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/largest-chinese-fuel-cell-bus-order-issued-for-2022-winter-olympics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205230012/https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/largest-chinese-fuel-cell-bus-order-issued-for-2022-winter-olympics |archive-date=2018-02-05 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=FuelCellsWorks}} During the Games, over 800 hydrogen fuel cell buses and coaches were used from manufacturers Foton, Yutong, Geely and Zhongtong Bus.{{Cite web |date=14 February 2022 |title=Hydrogen Cars and Buses Seize the Spotlight at Beijing's Winter Olympic Games |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-14/hydrogen-cars-and-buses-seize-the-spotlight-at-beijing-s-winter-olympic-games |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Bloomberg News}}{{Cite news |date=2021-12-06 |title=China's Zhangjiakou to deploy 655 hydrogen buses for 2022 Winter Games |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/chinas-zhangjiakou-deploy-655-hydrogen-buses-2022-winter-games-2021-12-06/ |access-date=2022-10-26}}{{Cite web |date=10 February 2022 |title=800+ Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses Serve Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games |url=https://www.chinabuses.org/news/2022/0210/article_12698.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.chinabuses.org}} Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were chosen over battery electric vehicles due to the cold weather prevalent in Hebei Province. The substantial use of hydrogen was criticised, given that much of China's hydrogen is "black hydrogen", produced by burning coal.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-11 |title=The problem with the Beijing Olympics hydrogen bus fleet |url=https://qz.com/2123354/the-problem-with-the-beijing-olympics-hydrogen-bus-fleet/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Quartz |language=en}} This meant that each kilo of hydrogen produced around 15–20 kg of CO_2.

File:Seoul 405 Hydrogen fuel ElecCity.jpg Elec City FCEV in Seoul, South Korea in 2019|left]]

Launched in 2017, the Hyundai Elec City entered commercial service in South Korea in December 2019. By June 2021, 108 buses were in service across South Korea.{{Cite web |date=25 June 2021 |title=Hyundai's Elec City Fuel Cell Bus Begins Trial Service in Munich |url=https://www.hyundai.news/uk/articles/press-releases/hyundais-elec-city-fuel-cell-bus-begins-trial-service-in-munich.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.hyundai.news}} Trial operations of the ElecCity with Wiener Linien in Vienna, Austria were planned from November 2021,{{Cite web |date=3 September 2021 |title=Hyundai Motor to hand over ELEC CITY Fuel Cell Bus to city bus operator in Austria |url=https://www.hyundai.news/eu/articles/press-releases/hyundai-motor-to-hand-over-elec-city-fuel-cell-bus-to-city-bus-operator-in-austria.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.hyundai.news}} with further tests in Germany also announced.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-28 |title=Hyundai Elec City: DB Regio is testing a Korean hydrogen bus |url=https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/hyundai-elec-city-db-regio-is-testing-a-korean-hydrogen-bus/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Urban Transport Magazine |language=en-US}} The ElecCity has a range of over {{Convert|500|km|mi}}, and a maximum output of 180 kW. The cities of Busan and Ulsan announced in 2022 that they planned to introduce over 620 buses by 2025.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-28 |title=South Korea ready to adopt 624 hydrogen-powered buses by 2025 |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/south-korea-ready-to-adopt-624-hydrogen-powered-buses-by-2025/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

In 2019, Polish bus manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach announced a hydrogen fuel cell bus on their popular Urbino 12 platform. This was subsequently tested by a range of major operators including RATP in Paris,{{Cite web |date=2020-10-23 |title=Solaris Urbino hydrogen on a test in Paris for RATP |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/solaris-urbino-hydrogen-on-a-test-in-paris-for-ratp/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} and ordered by European bus operators including Connexxion,{{Cite web |title=Connexxion orders 20 Solaris hydrogen buses for South Holland |url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/04/20200415-solaris.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Green Car Congress}} ÖBB Postbus,{{Cite web |title=Austrian bus company signs framework agreement for up to 106 Solaris battery-electric and hydrogen buses |url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/03/20220305-obb.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Green Car Congress}} and MPK Poznań.{{Cite web |date=26 October 2022 |title=Poznan's huge investment in hydrogen buses |url=https://www.solarisbus.com/en/press/poznan-s-huge-investment-in-hydrogen-buses-1869 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Solaris Bus |language=en}} In 2022, Solaris announced a hydrogen fuel cell version of their Urbino 18 articulated bus at InnoTrans 2022.{{Cite web |date=14 September 2022 |title=Unveiling of the Urbino 18 hydrogen bus along with #SolarisTalks 2022 |url=https://www.solarisbus.com/en/press/unveiling-of-the-urbino-18-hydrogen-bus-along-with-solaristalks-2022-1828 |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Solaris Bus |language=en}}

In 2020, the city of Nanning in China announced they planned to replace their entire 7,000 battery electric bus fleet with better performing hydrogen fuel cell/battery hybrid buses.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-08 |title=Nanjing to introduce hydrogen buses, Chinese manufacturer places an order with Loop Energy |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/nanjing-to-introduce-hydrogen-buses-chinese-manufacturer-places-an-order-with-loop-energy/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

{{As of|2020}}, the NERL was continuing work to evaluate fuel cell bus projects in the U.S., with 64 buses in service in California, Hawaii and Ohio.{{Cite web |last1=Eudy |first1=Leslie |last2=Post |first2=Matthew |date=March 2021 |title=Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2020 |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy21osti/75583.pdf |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory}} AC Transit has the largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses in the United States, with 22 buses in service from Van Hool and New Flyer. This will allow a direct comparison between battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses, to guide future purchasing decisions in light of a desire for a zero emission bus fleet.{{Cite web |date=10 June 2020 |title=Zero-Emissions Bus Rollout Plan |url=https://www.actransit.org/website/uploads/AC-Transit-ZEB-Rollout-Plan_06102020.pdf |access-date=26 October 2022 |website=Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District}} AC Transit noted that they had the "most comprehensive zero-emission bus (ZEB) program in the United States", and had run {{Convert|3,200,000|mi|km|abbr=}} of service with zero emission buses since 2000.

File:LK70AYY 7 19.jpg FCEV bus in London, England in 2022]]

In June 2021, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell double-decker bus (Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner) entered service with Metroline in London on route 7.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-23 |title=Mayor launches England's first hydrogen double decker buses |url=https://www.london.gov.uk//press-releases/mayoral/englands-first-hydrogen-double-deckers-launched |access-date=2021-08-07 |website=London City Hall |language=en-GB}} These buses also entered service in Aberdeen, Scotland.{{Cite web |title=World's first double decker hydrogen buses launch in Aberdeen |url=https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/116179/hydrogen-buses-aberdeen/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Intelligent Transport |language=en}} The Hydroliner FCEV was developed as part of the European Union 'Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles across Europe' (JIVE).{{Cite web |date=2018-02-13 |title=JIVE |url=https://www.fuelcellbuses.eu/projects/jive |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Fuel Cell Electric Buses |language=en}}

Other bus manufacturers continued to enter the hydrogen fuel cell market, with Iveco announcing a memorandum of understanding with Air Liquide to develop 'hydrogen mobility',{{Cite web |date=2021-12-14 |title=Iveco and Air Liquide together for hydrogen mobility in Europe |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/iveco-air-liquide-hydrogen-mobility-europe/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} and Alexander Dennis announcing a 'next generation' double decker bus.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-26 |title=Alexander Dennis H2.0 hydrogen bus on the launching pad |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/alexander-dennis-h2-0-hydrogen-bus-adl/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} New manufacturers also planned to enter the market, such as Hyzon Motors.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-05 |title=Hyzon Motors, a new player in the hydrogen bus field. A MOU for 1,000 vehicles announced |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/hyzon-motors-new-player-in-the-hydrogen-bus-field-a-mou-for-1000-vehicles-announced/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} Other countries continued to investigate the potential of hydrogen fuel cell buses, with Moscow announcing a pilot of Kamaz buses in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-13 |title=Kamaz hydrogen bus on a pilot in Moscow in 2022 |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/kamaz-hydrogen-bus-on-a-pilot-in-moscow-in-2022/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

In May 2022, {{Interlanguage link|Regionalverkehr Köln|lt=Regionalverkehr Köln|de}}, the public transport operator for Cologne, Germany ordered up to 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses from Solaris and Wrightbus.{{Cite web |title=RVK orders up to 100 more hydrogen buses for Cologne |url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/05/20220531-rvk.html |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Green Car Congress}} This followed the announcement of the 'National Hydrogen Strategy' in Germany, which made clear that hydrogen fuel cell buses were a feasible alternative for long-distance routes.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-10 |title=VDV praises at German hydrogen strategy. "Fuel cell technology for long bus routes" |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/vdv-praises-german-hydrogen-strategy-bus/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} Mercedes-Benz announced that their popular eCitaro bus would be made available with a range extender using a Toyota hydrogen fuel cell. This would increase the range of the bus to {{Convert|400|km|mi}}.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-31 |title=Fuel cell range extender on the e-bus. Mercedes secures a first deal for the eCitaro REX |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/mercedes-ecitaro-rex-fuel-cell-range-extender-on-the-e-bus-daimler-secures-a-first-deal-for-the/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-17 |title=Daimler Buses gets major eCitaro G order from Germany |url=https://www.electrive.com/2022/10/17/daimler-buses-signs-major-order-for-ecitaro-g-w-fuel-cell-rex/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=electrive.com |language=en-US}}

In July 2022, Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) ordered 47 fuel cell buses for the Grand Paris region in France at a cost of €48m. Green hydrogen will be used, with the hydrogen produced at an incinerator in Creteil.{{Cite web |last=Descalles |first=Julien |date=11 July 2022 |title=Les bus à hydrogène arrivent en Ile-de-France |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/les-bus-a-hydrogene-arrivent-en-ile-de-france-4122636 |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Le Journal du Dimanche |language=fr}} The managing director of IDFM stated that they wished to send a signal with their first order that bus manufacturers should "improve the technology, bring it to maturity, produce it [commercially] and we will be there".{{Cite web |date=2022-07-11 |title=Fuel cell buses in Paris region: soon expected a tender for 47 vehicles |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/fuel-cell-buses-paris-region/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

In July 2022, over five hundred Foton AUV buses joined the Beijing Public Transport Group. Media reported that the buses have a range of around 600 km, and can be refilled in around 10 to 15 minutes.{{Cite web |date=26 October 2022 |title=515 Units Foton AUV Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses Usher in An Era of Hydrogen Powered Public Transport in Beijing |url=https://www.chinabuses.org/news/2022/1026/article_12971.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.chinabuses.org}} These buses had previously been used at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

In August 2022, India's first domestically developed hydrogen fuel bus was unveiled in Pune. The bus was developed by KPIT Technologies and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.{{Cite web |last=Mani |first=Sudarsanan |date=2022-08-22 |title=Hydrogen fuel cell bus developed by KPIT-CSIR unveiled: Here is all you need to know |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/auto/hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus-developed-by-kpit-csir-unveiled-here-is-all-you-need-to-know-14553062.htm |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=cnbctv18.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Sentient Labs launches the first hydrogen fuel cell and zero-emissions bus made in India |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/sentient-labs-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-zero-emissions-bus-india/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

In 2022, New York City's MTA announced that they would trial hydrogen fuel cell buses, funded by a grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.{{Cite web |date=16 November 2022 |title=MTA Receives Grant for First Zero-Emission Hydrogen Buses |url=https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-receives-grant-first-zero-emission-hydrogen-buses |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=MTA |language=en}} The first two buses (New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE H2) will be launched in The Bronx by late 2024.{{Cite web |last=FuelCellsWorks |date=28 November 2022 |title=MTA To Deploy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses In The Bronx |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/mta-to-deploy-hydrogen-fuel-cell-buses-in-the-bronx/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |language=en-US}} The MTA announced that its entire bus fleet will be zero-emission by 2040.{{Cite web |title=MTA hosts hydrogen fuel-cell bus informational |url=http://bronx.news12.com/mta-hosts-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus-informational |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=News 12 - The Bronx |language=en |quote=The MTA says they have committed to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.}}

In 2023, issues regarding the cost of hydrogen compared to electricity led to several transit agencies cancelling their orders.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Hydrogen pioneer Pau (France) now consider BEV technology amidst soaring H2 costs |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/pau-france-hydrogen-battery-electric-technology/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-15 |title=Where are funding for European fuel cell buses coming from? |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/fuel-cell-buses-europe-funding/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} However other agencies continued to order fuel cell buses – with TPER in Bologna ordering 130 buses from Solaris,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-11 |title=Solaris has won the largest European H2 bus tender so far. 130 Urbino hydrogen for TPER |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/solaris-tper-tender-fuel-cell-buses-bologna/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Leigh |date=13 September 2023 |title=Europe’s largest ever order for hydrogen buses awarded to Poland’s Solaris after €272m tender |url=https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/europe-s-largest-ever-order-for-hydrogen-buses-awarded-to-poland-s-solaris-after-272m-tender/2-1-1516118 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=Hydrogen Insight}} Seoul ordering 1,300 buses from Hyundai{{Cite web |date=2023-06-12 |title=Hyundai is set to supply 1,300 fuel cell buses to Seoul |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/hyundai-is-set-to-supply-1300-fuel-cell-buses-to-seoul/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} and SamTrans ordering 108 buses from New Flyer.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=California, SamTrans approves purchase of 108 fuel cell buses from New Flyer |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/samtrans-new-flyer-purchase-fuel-cell-buses/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} In October 2023, Santa Cruz Metro in Santa Cruz, California ordered 57 fuel cell buses at a cost of $87 million, after tests showed that fully loaded battery electric buses were not suited to the hilly roads of the area.{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-02 |title=Why is Santa Cruz County so bullish on hydrogen-powered public transit? |url=http://lookout.co/hydrogen-powered-public-transit-why-is-santa-cruz-county-so-bullish/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Lookout Santa Cruz |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Leigh |date=4 October 2023 |title='We will place the biggest hydrogen bus order in US history because battery-electric can't do the job' |url=https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/we-will-place-the-biggest-hydrogen-bus-order-in-us-history-because-battery-electric-cant-do-the-job/2-1-1528769 |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=Hydrogen Insight |quote=But when the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transport District (Santa Cruz Metro) test-drove one of the “best electric buses money could buy for our needs” — weighing it down with sandbags to replicate the weight of its full passenger capacity — it had problems navigating the steep hills outside the coastal city.}}

A 2023 research paper estimated that just 4% of zero emission vehicles will be hydrogen fuel cell powered by 2044, with a "low penetration of fuel cell city buses" located only in countries with hydrogen infrastructure and on bus routes where it is unfeasible for battery electric buses to operate. The paper also noted potential for intercity coaches and buses to be powered by hydrogen fuel cells.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-08 |title=Only 4 percent of all zero emission vehicles are expected to be fuel cell powered in 2024, IDTechEx states |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/idtechex-study-fuel-cell-vehicles-4-per-cent-2044/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |url=https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-report/fuel-cell-electric-vehicles-2024-2044-markets-technologies-and-forecasts/977 |title=Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles 2024-2044: Markets, Technologies, and Forecasts |date=2023-12-07 |publisher=IDTechEx |isbn=978-1-83570-005-1 |language=en}} Other reports indicated growth in fuel cell buses, with Solaris indicating that they had over 500 buses on order, with a 44% market share for fuel cell buses in Europe.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=22 fuel cell buses by Solaris will be deployed in a trial by Île-de-France Mobilités in Paris region |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/solaris-deliver-hydrogen-buses-paris-trial-ile-de-france-mobilites/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-08 |title=Why fuel cell buses are becoming operators’ vehicle of choice for public transport |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/fuel-cell-buses-growing-choice-public-transpor-operators-ballard/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

In January 2024, Barcelona's TMB ordered 38 hydrogen fuel cell buses from Solaris at a cost of €23.4 million, with green hydrogen produced by Iberdrola in the Zona Franca area of the city.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Leigh |date=26 January 2024 |title=Barcelona to become Spain’s largest hydrogen bus operator after placing €23.4m order with manufacturer Solaris |url=https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/barcelona-to-become-spain-s-largest-hydrogen-bus-operator-after-placing-23-4m-order-with-manufacturer-solaris/2-1-1589367 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=Hydrogen Insight}} In April 2024, US manufacturer Gillig announced that they would introduce a hydrogen fuel cell bus by 2026, with a powertrain from BAE Systems and fuel cells from Ballard Power Systems.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=In 2026 Gillig will start production of a hydrogen bus with BAE powertrain and Ballard fuel cell module |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/gillig-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bus-bae-ballard/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}

File:Mercedes-Benz eCitaro Fuel Cell, Busworld Europe 2023, Brussels (P1140116).jpg, a battery electric bus with a hydrogen fuel cell range extender]]

Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells have some similarities with battery electric buses, as well as key differences.

Both types are zero-emission at the tailpipe, with hydrogen fuel cell buses producing water. However many sources of hydrogen, including those most commonly used, are not zero-emission. Both are propelled by electric motors, and both have been produced by a range of bus manufacturers. Both have upfront costs – such as electric chargers, or a hydrogen fuelling station.

Unlike battery electric buses, hydrogen fuel cell buses can be refuelled in around 10 minutes, compared to an overnight charge for electric buses (or an energy intensive, high current fast charge of a battery).{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-02 |title=Why is Santa Cruz County so bullish on hydrogen-powered public transit? |url=http://lookout.co/hydrogen-powered-public-transit-why-is-santa-cruz-county-so-bullish/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Lookout Santa Cruz |language=en-US |quote=Hydrogen buses have a longer range, about 300 to 350 miles per refueling, versus 175 to 200 miles per charge for an electric battery. Since hydrogen buses need to refuel only by filling their tanks up with hydrogen gas, they take about 15 minutes to fuel; battery electric buses can take several hours to recharge. And since hydrogen buses have only a hydrogen tank and a fuel cell, they can be as much as 11,000 pounds lighter than a bus lined with heavy electric batteries, making their travels less taxing on roads and bridges.}} Hydrogen fuel cell buses have a greater range and longer run time than battery electric buses, with a range of around {{Convert|450|km|mi}} before refuelling{{Cite web |title=Hydrogen, Or Batteries, That Is The Question: Hyundai Elec City Bus - Hyundai Motor Group TECH |url=https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/hydrogen-or-batteries-that-is-the-question-hyundai-elec-city-bus/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com |language=en-US |quote=Range Seoul mode simultation |archive-date=2021-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429032631/https://tech.hyundaimotorgroup.com/article/hydrogen-or-batteries-that-is-the-question-hyundai-elec-city-bus/ |url-status=dead }} – compared to around {{Convert|250|km|mi}} between charges for a battery electric bus. Hydrogen also has a higher energy storage density than batteries. Furthermore, as batteries are made larger to increase range – they become heavier, decreasing energy efficiency. Hydrogen fuel cell buses therefore weigh less than battery electric buses – up to {{Convert|11000|lb|kg}} lighter.

Hydrogen fuel cell buses are less affected by temperature, with consistent power and range at extreme hot or cold temperatures. Operators of battery electric buses have reported shorter range in low temperatures, with Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) reporting a 30% shorter range in cold weather (around {{Convert|-10|C|F}}).{{Cite web |last= |date=11 February 2021 |title=E-buses fail in the cold |url=https://www.green-zones.eu/en/blog-news/e-buses-fail-in-the-cold |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=www.green-zones.eu |language=en}}

Battery electric buses are more efficient than hydrogen fuel cell buses on an energy basis, owing to the relative inefficiency of a hydrogen fuel cell compared to a battery.

The cost of fuelling Hydrogen buses is higher than battery buses. Costs of both battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses has fallen over time.

Some manufacturers have used hydrogen fuel cells as a range extender for battery electric buses, allowing them to have greater range. For example, the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has a range of {{convert|280|km|-1}} as a battery electric model, with the eCitaro fuel cell bus having a range of {{convert|400|km|-1}} thanks to a 60 kW Toyota fuel cell that recharges the battery.{{Cite web |date=23 May 2023 |title=Drum roll for Mercedes eCitaro with FC range extender |url=https://www.electrive.com/2023/05/23/drum-roll-for-mercedes-ecitaro-with-fc-range-extender/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=electrive.com |language=en-US}}

{{As of|2023}}, research shows that hydrogen fuel cell buses are more expensive to operate than battery electric buses, owing to the higher cost of the vehicles and the hydrogen fuel used, as well as the inefficiency of using a hydrogen fuel cell compared to a battery.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Leigh |date=5 September 2023 |title=Real-world figures {{!}} Hydrogen buses cost 2.3 times more to run per km than battery electric ones, says Italian study |url=https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/transport/real-world-figures-hydrogen-buses-cost-2-3-times-more-to-run-per-km-than-battery-electric-ones-says-italian-study/2-1-1511785 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=Hydrogen Insight}}

The cost of fuelling buses has varied substantially, due to the cost and availability of hydrogen. Some transit operators have been able to use hydrogen by-product from industrial processes (such as the production of Polyvinyl chloride) to lower the cost.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-04 |title=RVK Cologne and its history of its hydrogen buses |url=https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/rvk-cologne-and-its-history-of-its-hydrogen-buses/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Urban Transport Magazine |language=en-US}} Other transit operators have built small scale plants to produce hydrogen from natural gas (brown hydrogen),{{Cite web |last1=Eudy |first1=L |last2=Chandler |first2=K |last3=Gikakis |first3=C |date=September 2007 |title=Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Summary of Experiences and Current Status |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41967.pdf |access-date=1 November 2022 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory}} or have purchased it directly from industrial producers. Campaigners have criticised the use of brown hydrogen to power the buses, in light of the carbon footprint created by the industrial process. Green hydrogen – hydrogen produced using renewable energy – is generally considered to be too expensive.

In 2006, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated that the cost of hydrogen fuel was around $9 a kilogram, roughly comparing it to $2 a gallon for diesel. It further noted that the total cost per mile (including maintenance) was around $1 per mile for diesel and around $6.50 per mile for hydrogen.{{Cite web |last1=Eudy |first1=Leslie |last2=Chandler |first2=Kevin |date=November 2006 |title=Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and San Mateo County Transit District Fuel Cell Transit Buses: Evaluation Results |url=https://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/pdfs/40615.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014231633/https://www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/pdfs/40615.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2008 |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory}} In Europe, the Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) project in the early 2000s reported fuelling costs around 10 times more than diesel.

In 2021, {{Interlanguage link|Tokyu Bus|lt=Tokyu Bus|ja|東急バス}} reported that the cost of fuelling a hydrogen fuel cell bus is around 2.6 times higher than an equivalent diesel bus, with brown hydrogen predominately used in Japan. In January 2022, the city of Montpellier, France, cancelled a contract to procure 51 buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells, when it found that the cost of operation was 6 times more expensive than electric buses.{{Cite web |last=Chaigneau |first=Cécile |date=2022-01-06 |title=Pourquoi la Métropole de Montpellier renonce aux bus à hydrogène |trans-title=Why the Montpellier Métropole is giving up hydrogen buses |url=https://objectif-languedoc-roussillon.latribune.fr/politique/politiques-publiques/2022-01-06/pourquoi-la-metropole-de-montpellier-renonce-aux-bus-a-hydrogene-899735.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=La Tribune |language=fr |quote=La technologie hydrogène est prometteuse, confirmait Michaël Delafosse le 4 janvier. Mais nous étions aidés sur l'investissement mais pas sur le fonctionnement. Or, il reviendrait six fois plus cher qu'avec des bus électriques. |trans-quote=Hydrogen technology is promising," confirmed Michaël Delafosse on January 4. But we were helped on the investment but not on the operation. However, it would be six times more expensive than with electric buses.}}{{Cite web |last=Hanley |first=Steve |date=2022-01-11 |title=French City Cancels Hydrogen Bus Contract, Opts For Electric Buses |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2022/01/11/french-city-cancels-hydrogen-bus-contract-opts-for-electric-buses/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=CleanTechnica |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-13 |title=Montpellier scratches the hydrogen bus plan and turns to battery-electric technology (for now). Reason: operating costs |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/montpellier-hydrogen-fuel-cell-buses-electric/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}} The city ordered battery electric buses instead.

In 2021, {{Interlanguage link|Wuppertaler Stadtwerke|lt=Wuppertaler Stadtwerke|de}} reported that their hydrogen fuel cell buses cost around the same as their diesel buses to operate.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-05 |title=Wuppertaler Stadtwerke: Cost parity between hydrogen and diesel buses |url=https://www.urban-transport-magazine.com/en/wuppertaler-stadtwerke-cost-parity-between-hydrogen-and-diesel-buses/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Urban Transport Magazine |language=en-US}} London reported that the cost of hydrogen was around £6 per kilogram in 2023, roughly comparable with the cost of diesel fuel.{{Cite web |last=Marius |first=Callum |date=2021-06-23 |title=The new hydrogen buses more expensive than Ferraris taking to London's streets |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/new-hydrogen-buses-more-expensive-20885791 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=MyLondon |language=en}} Santa Cruz noted in 2023 that hydrogen cost around $9 to $13 a gallon (compared to around $6 a gallon for diesel fuel), however they noted that fuel cell buses get "more than twice as much mileage out of a gallon-equivalent of hydrogen as a gallon of diesel", making direct comparisons between the two fuels challenging.{{Cite web |last=Neely |first=Christopher |date=2023-10-02 |title=Why is Santa Cruz County so bullish on hydrogen-powered public transit? |url=http://lookout.co/hydrogen-powered-public-transit-why-is-santa-cruz-county-so-bullish/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Lookout Santa Cruz |language=en-US |quote=Tree told me that Metro, in the early stages, would be looking at about $9 to $13 per gallon equivalent of compressed hydrogen fuel. In California, diesel rose to an average price of about $6.43 per gallon as of Sept. 28. Tree was quick to note, however, that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles get more than twice as much mileage out of a gallon-equivalent of hydrogen as a gallon of diesel, evening out the overall cost per mile.}}

Projections from the Hydrogen Council are that hydrogen produced from renewable energy at scale could cost around $1.4 to $2.3 per kilogram.

Costs of fuel cell buses has gradually fallen as technology has become more widespread and commercially viable.

In 2007, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated that the purchase price of a hydrogen fuel cell bus was around $2–3m, a standard diesel bus was around $330,000 and a hybrid bus was around $480,000.{{Cite news |last=Spiegel |first=Jan Ellen |date=2007-04-15 |title=For Hartford, a Fuel-Cell Bus Milestone |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/15ctweek.html |access-date=2022-11-02 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last1=Eudy |first1=L |last2=Chandler |first2=K |last3=Gikakis |first3=C |date=September 2007 |title=Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Summary of Experiences and Current Status |url=https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41967.pdf |access-date=1 November 2022 |website=National Renewable Energy Laboratory |page=22}} {{Interlanguage link|Regionalverkehr Köln|lt=Regionalverkehr Köln|de}} in Cologne, Germany reported that the Phileas bus cost them €1.86 million to purchase in 2011, a Van Hool A330 cost around €850,000 to purchase in 2014 and €590,000 to purchase in 2020, and that prices had fallen further – with new hydrogen fuel cell buses costing around €500,000 in 2023.

In 2022, the Financial Times reported that the Japanese Toyota FC Sora cost ¥100 million (€710,000) for a six-year lease, whereas a diesel bus costs around ¥24 million (€170,000). Local authorities have subsidised the cost of the buses to get them into service. In South Korea, the government subsidises the purchase of ₩700 million (€470,000) {{Interlanguage link|Hyundai ElecCity|lt=Hyundai ElecCity|ko|현대 일렉시티|WD=}} buses by ₩300 million (€200,000), protecting domestic industry from Chinese built battery electric buses.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Sora |date=2024-04-14 |title=[단독] “중국산 전기버스 공세 막아라”…현대차, 수소버스 생산능력 6배로 늘린다 |trans-title=[Exclusive] "Stop the offensive of Chinese electric buses"... Hyundai Motor Increases the production capacity of hydrogen buses by 6 times |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/business/10990129 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=매일경제 |language=ko}}

In the United States, it was reported in 2022 that a hydrogen bus cost around $1.2 million to purchase, compared to $750,000 for a battery electric bus.{{Cite web |last1=Higgs |first1=Larry |last2=Rodas |first2=Steven |date=2022-11-29 |title=Why some say hydrogen buses could be N.J.'s eco-friendly transit solution |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2022/11/why-some-say-hydrogen-buses-could-be-njs-eco-friendly-transit-solution.html |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=nj |language=en}} The Globe and Mail noted that European produced fuel cell buses are cheaper as they are produced in larger quantities.

Research groups such as H2Bus Consortium are working to lower the cost of hydrogen fuel cell buses to the level of diesel buses, with volume orders and mass production allowing manufacturers to take advantage of economies of scale.{{Cite web |date=2019-09-11 |title=H2Bus Europe |url=https://fuelcellbuses.eu/projects/h2bus-europe |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Fuel Cell Electric Buses |language=en}}

When compared to diesel buses, transit operators face additional upfront costs when moving to hydrogen fuel cell buses. This includes constructing hydrogen fuelling stations, as well as purchasing spare parts for new buses. Battery electric buses have similar upfront costs, requiring the installation of electric chargers and upgrades to the electrical grid to handle large numbers of electric buses being charged (often overnight).{{Cite magazine |title=When It Comes to Buses, Will Hydrogen or Electric Win? |language=en-GB |magazine=Wired UK |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/future-buses-hydrogen-electric |access-date=2023-01-07 |issn=1357-0978}}

File:20221014 4-15335 on ZZB 985.jpg in Zhengzhou, China in 2022]]{{As of|2020}}, 5,648 hydrogen fuel cell buses are in use around the world, with 93.7% of them in China.

A wide variety of companies are currently producing hydrogen fuel cell buses. Bus manufacturers usually work with a provider of hydrogen fuel cells to power the bus, such as Ballard Power Systems or Toyota.{{Cite web |title=Toyota Fuel Cell Business |url=https://www.toyota-europe.com/brands-and-services/toyota-fuel-cell/fuel-cell-business |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Toyota Europe |language=en}}

Vehicles include, but are not limited to:

{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|

• New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE FC{{Cite web |date=2022-09-08 |title=New Flyer launches new fuel cell bus model Xcelsior Charge FC (with Ballard technology and Siemens ELFA 3 drivetrain) |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/new-flyer-xcelsior-charge-fc-hydrogen-bus/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}
• Toyota Sora FC
• Wright StreetDeck Hydroliner FCEV{{Cite web |title=StreetDeck Hydroliner FCEV |url=https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/hydrogen-bus-streetdeck-hydrolinerFCEV |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Wrightbus}}
• Solaris Urbino
• Hyundai Elec City FCEV
• Caetano H2.City Gold
• Foton AUV
• Yutong F12
• Van Hool A330 FC{{Cite web |date=2020-12-02 |title=10 million hydrogen-powered km travelled so far. Van Hool reaches the milestone |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/10-million-km-hydrogen-buses-van-hool/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}
• Mercedes-Benz eCitaro REX
• Zhongtong LCK6126FCEVG{{Cite web |title=Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus {{!}} Zhongtong |url=http://zhongtongbuses.com/10-3-hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric-bus.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=zhongtongbuses.com |language=en}}
• Skywell NJ6106FCEV{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Skywell hydrogen bus got index approval in China. Next step: large-scale deployment in Nanjing |url=https://www.sustainable-bus.com/fuel-cell-bus/skywell-hydrogen-bus-got-index-approval-in-china-next-step-large-scale-deployment-in-nanjing/ |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=Sustainable Bus |language=en-US}}
• ElDorado Axess-FC{{Cite web |title=Axess-FC I Hydrogen bus I ENC |url=https://www.eldorado-ca.com/hydrogen-hybrid-bus |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=ENC}}
• Sunwin iFCV10

}}

{{portal|Buses}}

• Fuel cell vehicle
• List of fuel cell vehicles
• List of buses

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.netinform.net/h2/H2Mobility/H2MobilityStart.aspx?CATID=2 H2mobility.org] Hydrogen buses worldwide [Dead Link]
• [http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/environment/fchv/fchv08.html Toyota FCHV-BUS data sheet]
• [http://www.gofuelcellbus.com/ International Fuel Cell Bus Collaborative] [Dead Link]

{{buses}}

Category:Fuel cell buses

Category:Energy technology