Surrey County Council has completed a £16 million investment to operate 54 hydrogen fuel-cell buses across the region—now the largest hydrogen bus fleet in the UK. Built by Wrightbus and run by Metrobus, the fleet includes 23 single‑deckers and 11 double‑deckers, each offering up to 600 miles range and fast refueling under 10 minutes
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⛰️ Hurdles
High upfront investment and hydrogen fuel costs relative to diesel or battery-electric alternatives.
Infrastructure gaps persist, including reliance on a central liquid hydrogen station at Metrobus Crawley depot.
Ensuring long-term reliability and maintenance over heavy daily routes in varying weather and traffic conditions.
🌱 Opportunities
Demonstrates hydrogen’s viability for long-range public transport across major transit corridors.
Sets a benchmark in the UK for green fleet deployment, boosting confidence among local authorities and operators.
Supports air quality and climate goals in a high-use suburban and commuter ecosystem.
💡 Your Move
📊 Track route performance: Monitor service data (range, uptime, refuel time) for fleet viability signals.
🚏 Infrastructure engagement: Identify operators or suppliers for hydrogen refueling and depot upgrades.
🤝 Fleet & policy alignment: Encourage transit providers and councils to consider hydrogen pilots—especially along long routes.
🧠 Upskill now: Train on fuel cell systems, hydrogen logistics, and rapid refuelling processes for local transport innovation.
🦁 Muzaffar’s Comment
“Surrey’s fleet rollout shows hydrogen isn’t just experimental—it’s fully operational and scalable. If councils across the UK take note, hydrogen buses could quickly replicate this model nationwide.”
🦉Sameer’s Comment
“This is impressive, but I’m watching costs closely. Fuel, maintenance, infrastructure—all still premium. If those come down, this could be the blueprint. Until then, it’s still a bold experiment.”
