The project has “outperformed expectations” and includes the fleet of Van Hool vehicles, a purpose-built maintenance facility, and a hydrogen production and refuellingstation, owned and operated by BOC.
Results show that the buses are almost four times more fuel efficient than diesel equivalents. Project leader Aberdeen City Council is now looking at adding more vehicles to the fleet.
The project, which has backing from Europe, the UK and Scottish governments and private sector partners, is designed to create a hydrogen economy in the city.
Councillor Barney Crockett, Aberdeen City Council’s lead member for hydrogen, says: “In the space of just a year since we moved into the operational phase, the project has outperformed expectations.
“These vehicles have replaced 10 diesel buses on the city’s streets, cutting the amount of toxins polluting our air on a daily basis and helping us work towards making Aberdeen a cleaner, greener city, with a clear focus on low-carbon technologies.
“On the strength of the project, we’ve managed to introduce other hydrogen vehicles to Aberdeen and have successfully cemented our position as a leading hydrogen city.”
Steve Walker, managing director for Stagecoach North Scotland – which contributed £1m to the project – describes today as “a huge milestone”.
He adds: “We are really pleased with how the vehicles are performing on the road and we have had a significant amount of positive feedback from our passengers on the quality of the buses.”