Policy & regulationVehiclesUnited Kingdom

Aberdeen's failed hydrogen bus fleet cost almost £14 million

By Eve

Aberdeen's hydrogen bus project, which has now been scrapped, cost the city nearly £14 million according to BBC reporting. The fleet failed to deliver on its promise of clean public transport, leading to its termination. The figure underscores the financial risks councils face when pioneering alternative fuel infrastructure without proven operational models.

Why it matters: The failure highlights procurement risks for local authorities investing in emerging fuel technologies and may influence future tender decisions favouring battery electric buses over hydrogen. It serves as a cautionary case study for CPOs evaluating total cost of ownership and technology maturity in zero emission transport contracts.

Source: https://bbc.com/ — original title: “Aberdeen's failed hydrogen bus fleet cost almost £14m

Published 21 April 2026 (date approximate)

Updated 17 July 2026

Also covered by: Google News (1, 2)