Liverpool hydrogen buses could double

Liverpool City Region’s planned hydrogen bus fleet could double in size.

Funding is already in place to buy 20 double-decker hydrogen buses to initially serve the city region’s busiest route, the 10A between St Helens and Liverpool city centre.

There is currently an ongoing procurement process for the hydrogen bus, with no manufacturer yet selected. The vehicles are due to enter service next year.

A proposed bid for extra funding was discussed and agreed at last week’s Combined Authority (CA) meeting (4 June) that could see the hydrogen bus fleet increased to 40 vehicles, enough to fully service the route.

The roll out of new zero-emission hydrogen buses is a key part of Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram’s plans to deliver an integrated London-style transport system.

Funding towards the additional hydrogen buses would come via a bid to the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area scheme (ZEBRA). If successful, the funding would cover up to 75% of the cost difference between the highly efficient hydrogen vehicles and a standard bus.

This would mean the £12.5m committed through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) already committed to the project could be spread over the cost of more vehicles.

Broader plans for the project also include the building of hydrogen refuelling facilities, which will be the first of their kind in the north west. Construction of the refuelling facilities is planned to begin later in the year.