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Hydrogen Buses
Published on 09 December 2021
United Kingdom
North Eastern Scotland
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About this good practice
Aberdeen City Council (ACC) has deployed 25 hydrogen buses in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire to date. The first project, the ‘Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project’, deployed 10 single deck fuel cell electric buses between 2014-2019. The objective was to prove that a hybrid fuel cell bus can meet the operational performance of an equivalent diesel bus on demanding routes, whilst considerably exceeding its environmental performance. The main stakeholders for this project were ACC, the Scottish Government, VanHool (bus manufacturer), BOC (hydrogen station builder and operator) and the 2 bus operators (First Bus and Stagecoach). This project was funded by FCHJU, HighVLOCity and HyTransit as well as ACC, Scottish Government, bus operators First and Stagecoach, Scottish Gas Network, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Hydrogen Electric Power Distribution. This was the largest hydrogen bus trial in Europe. Following its completion the buses have been rehomed for training, and for display and exhibition purposes.
Thereafter, with funding from FCHJU-JIVE, the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council, ACC deployed 15 hydrogen double-decker buses in partnership with First Bus from 2020. These were purchased as part of a joint procurement with 9 other European cities. The projects joint procurement in tandem with advances in fuel cell technology has resulted in significantly lower costs than we saw in the first bus deployment. ACC has approved plans to order 10 more buses arriving in 2022.
Thereafter, with funding from FCHJU-JIVE, the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council, ACC deployed 15 hydrogen double-decker buses in partnership with First Bus from 2020. These were purchased as part of a joint procurement with 9 other European cities. The projects joint procurement in tandem with advances in fuel cell technology has resulted in significantly lower costs than we saw in the first bus deployment. ACC has approved plans to order 10 more buses arriving in 2022.
Resources needed
Tenders were issued for both projects – first with the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project to appoint the bus manufacturer and the hydrogen refuelling station builder; and second, with the JIVE Bus Project a joint procurement tender with various cities to determine the most appropriate bus manufacturer.
Evidence of success
The practice demonstrates the involvement of ACC in a successful pilot European project where hydrogen buses were trialled for 5 years on both urban and rural routes. It also shows Aberdeen’s progression with hydrogen technology and as a city that has continued to engage in even bigger hydrogen projects such as JIVE with 22 other cities, resulting in a reduced cost of buses for all project partners.
Potential for learning or transfer
It is possible to implement hydrogen technology at pilot stage and then at a larger scale. The practice shows the importance that funding from local, national and international bodies plays when it comes to trialling and pursuing hydrogen technology.
It also shows the great potential there is to reduce the cost of hydrogen vehicles when partners jointly procure items. The first buses Aberdeen purchased were approximately £1.2m each however through joint procurement with JIVE partners, this reduced to approximately £550,000 per bus.
Bulk purchase of hydrogen vehicles can bring training opportunities. Through the bus projects, ACC has upskilled the bus engineers, allowing them to take ownership of all maintenance of the vehicles, including the hydrogen components. This has expanded hydrogen expertise in the city. As all Partner regions are deploying hydrogen buses at the same time it also offers an ideal learning platform to exchange ideas for solutions/ avoid emerging difficulties.
It also shows the great potential there is to reduce the cost of hydrogen vehicles when partners jointly procure items. The first buses Aberdeen purchased were approximately £1.2m each however through joint procurement with JIVE partners, this reduced to approximately £550,000 per bus.
Bulk purchase of hydrogen vehicles can bring training opportunities. Through the bus projects, ACC has upskilled the bus engineers, allowing them to take ownership of all maintenance of the vehicles, including the hydrogen components. This has expanded hydrogen expertise in the city. As all Partner regions are deploying hydrogen buses at the same time it also offers an ideal learning platform to exchange ideas for solutions/ avoid emerging difficulties.
Further information
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Good practice owner
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Organisation
Aberdeen City Council
United Kingdom
North Eastern Scotland
Contact
Project Officer