Search: Aberdeen Council

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.

Aberdeen City Council has abandoned its fleet of 25 hydrogen double-decker buses after they sat unused for over a year due to fuel shortages, following a £8.3 million investment from Scottish Government, council and European funds over five years. The council admitted it held no data comparing costs between the hydrogen fleet and battery-electric buses, despite studies showing electric buses are up to three times cheaper to run. A freedom of information request revealed the council could not provide the original justification for choosing hydrogen over electric or any cost comparisons since the decision.

Why it matters: The case highlights procurement risks when authorities invest in alternative fuel infrastructure without baseline cost analysis against proven electric options. Councils and operators planning fleet transitions can use this as a cautionary example of the importance of total cost of ownership modelling and fuel supply security before committing capital.

Aberdeen City Council is preparing to sell its fleet of 25 hydrogen powered double decker buses, which have been parked for over a year following the collapse of a joint venture with BP. The 60 seat Wrightbus vehicles, which entered service in early 2021 as a world first hydrogen double deck fleet, have been out of service since late 2024 due to delays in repairs at hydrogen refuelling sites in Kittybrewster and Cove. The project cost approximately £8.3 million, funded by Aberdeen City Council, the Scottish Government and the European Union, with an investment of around £500,000 per vehicle within the FCH JU project.

Why it matters: The sale underscores infrastructure risk in alternative fuel procurements: even capital intensive fleets can strand if refuelling partnerships fail. Councils and operators evaluating hydrogen or other novel powertrains will weigh this £8.3 million write off against the maturity of battery electric charging networks.

A council is in discussions to exit its partnership with the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub, according to reports from Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. The talks signal potential changes to the governance or funding structure of the hydrogen infrastructure project in Aberdeen, Scotland. No specific reasons for the potential withdrawal or timeline have been disclosed in available reports.

Why it matters: The Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub has been positioned as a key refuelling site for hydrogen vehicles, and any partner withdrawal could affect procurement timelines or investment confidence for fleets and infrastructure operators planning hydrogen deployments in the region.

EZO has started migrating 177 existing ChargePlace Scotland chargers to its platform across Aberdeenshire, Moray, Aberdeen City and Highland council areas, marking the first phase of a 20 year contract. The company will install 570 new charging points across the region by 2028, more than doubling the existing EV infrastructure. EZO, which operates Ireland's largest privately owned EV charging network, is expanding into the UK market with drivers now required to use its app, already used by more than 110,000 drivers.

Why it matters: The 20 year contract represents a significant procurement commitment for Scottish councils and demonstrates how local authorities are partnering with private operators to scale public charging networks. The migration of existing assets and doubling of infrastructure by 2028 signals sustained capital deployment and installation work across northern Scotland for CPOs and contractors.