Foshan's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses Idle Due to High Costs and Low Ridership
Foshan's hydrogen fuel cell buses are largely idle due to high operational costs and declining ridership, with over 20 buses parked at the Danzao Coach Terminal. Despite a significant investment in nearly 1,000 buses and government subsidies, soaring hydrogen fuel prices and decreased passenger numbers since 2020 have led to the suspension of operations for many vehicles in the Nanhai district. Without continued government support, the future of this costly transportation initiative remains uncertain.
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Foshan, Guangdong province, faces significant challenges with its hydrogen fuel cell buses, which are largely out of service due to high operational costs and declining passenger numbers. Over 20 hydrogen buses are currently parked at the Danzao Coach Terminal, with only about half of the more than 380 buses in the Nanhai district still operational.
The city invested in around 1,000 hydrogen buses between 2018 and 2019, with a cost of approximately CNY1,800,000 (USD252,000) each, despite government subsidies. However, due to high hydrogen fuel prices, operating costs have surged, as market rates are around CNY50 (USD7) per kilogram, compared to CNY35 (USD4.90) for fuel hydrogen.
Additionally, local ridership has decreased since 2020 following the opening of new rail lines, prompting public transport operators to suspend operations of these costly buses. The Nanhai district has invested over CNY60 billion (USD8.6 billion) in hydrogen energy, but without continued government support, the industry may struggle to advance.
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