Plans to bring Aberdeen’s hydrogen bus fleet back into service have been hit by another delay, with the city council confirming that no firm restart date has yet been set.
All 15 buses have been off the road since September last year following technical failures at the city’s two fuelling stations in Kittybrewster and Cove. Although the vehicles are operated by First Bus, they are owned by Aberdeen City Council (ACC), which has been overseeing refurbishment and recommissioning work.
Earlier this year, the council had hoped the fleet would return to service over the summer, supported by temporary mobile fuelling units at Kittybrewster and the First Bus depot on King Street. However, those plans have now slipped.
A new Hydrogen Production Hub at TECA, near Aberdeen International Airport, has since been completed, but the council says supply challenges continue to impact the fleet’s return.
An ACC spokesperson said: “The buses have been off the road due to a lack of hydrogen supply. Prior to being back in operation, the buses will require to undertake some testing as part of a recommissioning process. Recommissioning works are underway on the fleet with road testing expected to commence within the coming weeks.”
Aberdeen’s hydrogen buses were once among the flagship elements of the city’s low-carbon transport strategy, and their prolonged absence has drawn increasing public interest as efforts continue to resolve the fuelling issues.
