Up to 20 hydrogen-powered buses were previously planned to operate in the UK city. However, the authority concluded that global hydrogen supply constraints and high costs made them less practical.

Instead, the LCRCA will convert the fleet to battery-electric buses, adding to the electric vehicles already on order as part of its wider bus network overhaul.

“The move to further expand the fully-electric bus fleet strengthens the Liverpool City Region’s position as a leader in sustainable transport and accelerates its journey towards becoming Net Zero,” it said in a statement.

Backed by the £1.6bn Transport for City Region settlement, the wider investment covers new depots, smart ticketing, a new fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles, bus priority measures and franchising, aimed at delivering cleaner, more reliable services.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said, “We’re making record investment in our fleet, infrastructure, and smart ticketing so we’re ready to deliver service improvement passengers know they can rely on, day in, day out.

“It means cleaner, more comfortable journeys, better reliability, and lower running costs – helping us to keep fares as affordable as possible.”

The LCRCA’s decision contrasts with wider industry expectations that buses will be an early anchor market for hydrogen mobility, supported by relatively strong economics and predictable refuelling demand.

Resato Hydrogen Technology CEO Rob Castien previously told H2 View that hydrogen-powered buses will drive near-term demand for refuelling infrastructure.