Hydrogen Fuelling for Buses

The domestic transport sector is the largest emitting sector in the UK, accounting for 29.1% of all greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.* Converting diesel buses to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell buses can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

Air Products is the leading supplier of hydrogen globally with decades of experience designing and implementing hydrogen fuelling systems. We’re here to support your decarbonisation needs.

Air Products' liquid hydrogen refuelling station in Crawley, UK is the largest of its kind in Europe and is fuelling a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses around the Gatwick airport, Crawley and Horley area.

Why do we need hydrogen-powered buses?

In applications requiring heavy vehicle weight, long range and quick refuelling times, hydrogen becomes a more efficient option than battery electric power for vehicles like buses.

How can hydrogen power a bus?

Hydrogen can power a bus using a fuel cell. In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen atoms are separated into two primary components: one proton and one electron. The positively charged hydrogen protons pass through the fuel cell where they meet oxygen from the air on the other side. The electrons, however, head a different direction, creating an electric current which can power a fuel cell electric motor. The electrons then meet back up with the hydrogen ions and oxygen molecules from the air at the end of the process, creating water as the only emission.

How does fuelling a hydrogen bus work and is it safe?

Fuelling a hydrogen bus is similar to fuelling a petrol- or diesel-powered bus and takes about the same time.

Swipe to see our recent hydrogen bus fuelling projects.

The Go-Ahead Group launched a pioneering fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses―served by Air Products' liquid hydrogen refuelling station in Crawley, UK, the largest of its kind in Europe―to carry passengers in and around the Gatwick Airport, Crawley and Horley area.

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Carburos Metálicos, Air Products' subsidiary in Spain, provided a portable hydrogen refuelling station, and supplied bus line operator Alsa with renewable hydrogen, for a six-month hydrogen bus refuelling demonstration in Cantabria.

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Air Products has provided hydrogen and refuelling infrastructure for the trial of a pioneering new zero-carbon tourist transit network in the UK that tested the suitability of both FCEV and EV vehicles for use in the area.

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Carburos Metálicos, Air Products' subsidiary in Spain, has provided a portable hydrogen refuelling station along with renewable hydrogen for a hydrogen city bus demonstration in the city of Malaga.

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Carburos Metálicos, Air Products' subsidiary in Spain, has provided a portable hydrogen generator, as well as the renewable hydrogen, for the successful demonstration of a hydrogen bus in the city of Toledo.

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Carburos Metálicos, Air Products' subsidiary in Spain, has provided a portable hydrogen refuelling station, as well as the renewable hydrogen, for the successful demonstration of the first hydrogen bus in Galicia.

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Air Products and New Flyer have toured cities in Oregon to demonstrate the benefits of fuel cell electric buses powered with Air Products’ hydrogen.

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Air Products has provided the largest capacity hydrogen fuelling station for transit buses in the United States for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in Santa Ana, California.

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Reasons to Convert to Hydrogen Bus Fuelling with Air Products

Air Products is the world’s leading supplier of hydrogen with over 65 years of experience in hydrogen production, storage, distribution and dispensing. We’ve implemented over 250 hydrogen fuelling stations in 20 countries, and our technology and hydrogen is responsible for over 1.5 million hydrogen fueling activities annually. We provide turnkey hydrogen bus fuelling solutions to help you decarbonise your bus fleet.

Improved Air Quality

Hydrogen fuel cell buses emit only water and no harmful greenhouse gases or particulate matter.

Faster Refuelling

Compared to electric buses which can take hours to recharge, hydrogen buses can be refuelled about as quickly as a diesel bus.

Longer Range

Range of up to 250 miles means less bus refuelling or recharging is required, giving greater route flexibility.

Operate Year Round

Storage and start-up is achievable at very low temperatures, giving you flexibility to operate zero-emission buses year round.

Learn how you can decarbonise your bus fleet.

Talk to one of our hydrogen bus fuelling experts today.

*2023 UK greenhouse gas emissions, provisional figures