Halifax’s just announced hydrogen-diesel hybrid bus trial is intended to be an ambitious stride forward in the city’s climate action plan and a trial that transit operators globally will gain insights from. Yet, scratching just below the surface reveals a problematic disconnect between optimistic projections and operational realities. The trial, … [continued]
The humble trolleybus is enjoying an unexpected global revival, quietly returning to the spotlight in the relentless push for sustainable urban transit solutions. Once dismissed as obsolete or nostalgic, the trolley bus — now dramatically transformed by modern In-Motion Charging (IMC) technology — is proving to be a strategic and … [continued]
Two more hydrogen bus trial failures crossed my screen this morning, so I thought I’d share. Both are in Europe, but while one is in the capital of the EU, the other is across the Channel in the heart of the United Kingdom’s oil and gas industry. While I’m at … [continued]
In recent months I’ve assembled a long, long list of hydrogen bus trials that ended up with the transit agencies realizing what should have been obvious before they started: hydrogen buses are a lot more expensive and battery electric buses are much cheaper and more reliable. More come out of … [continued]
The latest hydrogen bus setback in Germany is no surprise. Essen and Mülheim are now stuck with 19 hydrogen buses that need to travel up to 89 km round trip just to refuel after the state of North Rhine–Westphalia withdrew its subsidy for further fleet conversion. The financial burden has … [continued]
Electric buses are transforming Europe’s public transportation system faster than many policymakers expected. In 2024, nearly half of all new city buses sold in the European Union were battery-electric, according to a new report from Transport & Environment (T&E). This shift marks a decisive moment in the debate over how … [continued]
On March 3, 2025, all 25 hydrogen-powered Solaris Urbino 12 Hydrogen buses operated by MPK Poznań were abruptly withdrawn from service. This decision followed onboard diagnostic systems detecting unexpected malfunctions across the entire fleet. The affected buses had been refueled at a public hydrogen station in Poznań, supplied by … [continued]
Canada’s transition to electric buses is gaining momentum, with numerous cities from west to east adopting zero-emission vehicles to enhance sustainability in public transit. While hydrogen has often been getting the attention, what’s really been happening is lots of electric buses. Let’s take a trip across the country. Victoria, located … [continued]
Who would have thought that New York’s congestion pricing plan would raise $48.6 million in tolls during its first month? Clearly not President Donald J. Trump, who insists that the toll plan hurts local business. Trump has ordered the Department of Transportation to revoke New York’s federal congestion pricing authorization. … [continued]
For several months I’ve been digging through what’s going on with a Canadian transit ‘think’ tank, CUTRIC, and why it’s pushing hydrogen buses into city plans across the country. It keeps claiming hydrogen buses have been a success and are cheap, but cities keep canceling their plans for them as … [continued]
