Hyundai Accelerates Supply of Hydrogen City Buses Targeting 400 Units in Seoul

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6. Worldwide review of hydrogen fuel cell buses: Status, opportunities, and challenges

Zhuowei Wang, Anthony Chen, Chengxiang Zhuge, Worldwide review of hydrogen fuel cell buses: Status, opportunities, and challenges,
Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 154, 2026, 105299, ISSN 1361-9209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2026.105299.

Abstract: Hydrogen is becoming a key carbon-free energy carrier for transportation, especially for long-haul public transit due to its high energy density and fast refueling. Hydrogen fuel cell buses (FCBs) are attracting global attention. This review analyzes 153 sources to summarize FCB adoption, policies, technical and economic features, and region-specific challenges and opportunities across 13 representative areas with specific cases of both success and failure. Findings show FCBs outperform battery electric buses in certain conditions, and fuel cell technology has strong future potential. However, large-scale adoption is hindered by high costs, limited infrastructure, and social acceptance, varying by region. We recommend integrated multidisciplinary academic efforts in energy management, lifecycle analysis, multi-modal transport, and stakeholder engagement, and practical steps in policy support, regulatory standards, public education, and international cooperation. These strategies are crucial for positioning FCBs as a viable zero-emission transport solution and for advancing the hydrogen economy in diverse contexts.

Introduction

The transport sector accounts for about one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions (Wijayasekera et al., 2024), underscoring the need for its decarbonization to meet carbon neutrality goals. Buses represent a key component of low-carbon public transit systems, with zero-emission buses (ZEBs) providing a viable pathway to eliminate tailpipe emissions (Hensher et al., 2022). In transit-dependent cities such as Hong Kong, where buses account for about one-third of daily passenger trips (HKTD report, 2025), decarbonizing the bus sector is especially critical.

Both battery electric buses (BEBs) and hydrogen fuel cell buses (FCBs)¹ are viable ZEB options that are being explored and promoted globally. BEBs currently dominate the ZEB market, primarily due to their lower costs (Hensher et al., 2022) and the availability of mature charging infrastructure that can leverage existing electricity grids. However, FCBs offer distinct advantages in specific operational contexts. These include substantially shorter refueling times compared to even fast-charging BEBs (Poggio et al., 2023), reliable performance in extreme climates where BEBs are prone to significant range loss (Kim et al., 2021), and enhanced suitability for long-haul operations owing to hydrogen’s high energy density (i.e., 143 MJ/kg, much higher than diesel/gasoline at 45 MJ/kg, and lithium-ion batteries at less than 1 MJ/kg; Durbin and Malardier-Jugroot, 2013), which enables driving ranges exceeding 400 km—making FCBs particularly appropriate for intercity routes or full-day urban service without mid-day charging (Logan et al., 2020). These technical advantages position FCBs as a promising solution for certain market segments.

According to the latest International Energy Analysis (IEA) report (2025), by 2024, a total of 8,712 FCBs were operational across 21 countries and five continents, with Asia—particularly China—dominating global deployment, as shown in Fig. 1. China accounted for 82.06% of the worldwide fleet (7,147 units), followed by South Korea, Germany, the United States (U.S.), and Japan. Europe, while representing less than 10% of the global total, FCBs are already being developed in a notable number of countries, with Germany, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and Spain taking the lead. In North America, adoption was concentrated in the U.S. (particularly California) and Canada. Other emerging countries include India, Brazil, and Australia (Sustainable Bus news, 2024c). Globally, single-deck FCBs are most prevalent, though double-decker models are being piloted in the U.K. and Hong Kong, China (Citybus news, 2022). Overall, the spatial distribution remains heavily Asia-dominated, while other regions are showing gradual and expanding interest.

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Assuming for the moment, that number (8,712) is still accurate, It looks like, Hyundai has sold a bit more than one third of the world's fleet of “FCB’s,” with most of those sales happening in the past 2 years.