Years ago, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a report outlining the advantages of hydrogen school buses. Fuel cell technology has improved dramatically since then, though hydrogen-powered vehicles remain relatively rare. That could change as these buses enter the market in 2023.
Upcoming Hydrogen School Bus Projects
At a student transportation conference in October 2022, Pegasus Specialty Vehicles announced a joint venture to bring hydrogen school buses to market in 2023. Details like a specific release date and prices are still unclear, but Pegasus expects the bus to have a range of 750 miles. The vehicle will initially feature a battery pack that takes 10 minutes to charge, but later models will phase out the battery entirely.
This hydrogen platform will come to Type A and Type C buses, helping meet various transportation needs and budgets between school systems. Pegasus also plans to use green hydrogen, minimizing these new vehicles’ fossil fuel reliance.
Hydrogen school buses are also starting to emerge in other parts of the world. A recent project in the Bowen Basin, Australia, is investing $2.7 million in hydrogen buses for miners and students in the area. Two fuel cell buses should enter the fleet in question by mid-2023.
Benefits of Hydrogen School Buses
Electric buses were already outpacing diesel alternatives in many communities, but most are battery-electric vehicles. Fuel cell-powered buses have been running in some cities for a few years now, but they haven’t caught up with EVs in consumer segments. Despite that sluggish adoption, hydrogen school buses offer many benefits.
Any electric vehicle is an improvement over standard diesel buses, as these more traditional options produce considerable greenhouse gas emissions. However, battery-electric alternatives aren’t ideal in some cases. Fuel cells offer longer ranges, letting school buses navigate long routes and slow traffic without stopping.
Refueling a hydrogen bus also takes less time than charging a battery-electric one. Today’s battery-powered buses can recharge fully in six to eight hours, but that’s close to the length of many school days. Using hydrogen instead ensures buses have time to refuel between morning and afternoon routes.
Buses that use green hydrogen may also be more eco-friendly than battery-electric alternatives. Most grid electricity comes from fossil fuels, so charging a bus for six hours still produces considerable emissions. Renewable-derived hydrogen doesn’t have that problem.
Remaining Challenges
The advent of hydrogen school buses is an impressive step forward, but some obstacles remain. One of the most significant is the need for widespread hydrogen fueling infrastructure. As of mid-2020, there were only 43 retail hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S., most of which are in California. These pumps will have to become more common for fuel cell buses to be practical on a large scale.
Fuel cell technology is also expensive, though that’s becoming less of an issue. Pegasus claims its hydrogen buses will cost around the same as a battery-electric bus. That range still places it above a diesel alternative, but it’s a promising sign for hydrogen vehicles, which are typically less affordable than battery-electric EVs.
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Fuel Cell Transportation Is Reaching New Heights
It will likely be a few years before fuel cell school buses are common. However, with several models aiming for a 2023 release, that future may be nearer than some might have initially expected. This points to hydrogen technology’s impressive strides in recent years, painting a promising picture of the future.
Jane Marsh, Contributor
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