Aberdeen’s fleet of hydrogen-powered double-decker buses has remained out of service since July 2024 due to ongoing maintenance of the city’s ageing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
The buses, heralded as a world first when launched in 2021, have been grounded for nearly nine months as work continues to upgrade two city-operated hydrogen refuelling stations.
Operator First Bus confirmed to Hydrogen Insight that the refuelling sites have been offline for extended maintenance. The work is intended to futureproof the infrastructure and extend the operational lifespan of the sites.
Aberdeen City Council described the refuelling stations as “ageing” in response to a recent Freedom of Information request reported by the Press and Journal. A spokesperson for the council stated that the upgrades would “ensure supply can be continued to meet the demand of our growing fleet.”
No date has yet been confirmed for when the hydrogen buses will return to service.
