The Opportunities and Challenges of Hydrogen Bus Adoption in Tampere
Kinnunen, Kasperi Aleksanteri (2025)
2025
Bachelor's Programme in Sustainable Urban Development
Rakennetun ympäristön tiedekunta - Faculty of Built Environment
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2025-05-31
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505205840
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505205840
Tiivistelmä
As cities are making the move towards carbon-neutral public transport systems, new technologies are needed to replace the classic internal combustion engine vehicles. Battery electric buses are a popular alternative, but they have certain downsides that can make them suboptimal for certain scenarios. Hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are another environmentally friendly option that could rival battery electric buses in certain use cases.
This study examined the opportunities and challenges of adopting hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Tampere, Finland. A theoretical foundation was established with a literature review. Expert interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the topic, as well as to answer questions related to Tampere specifically, since literature about hydrogen bus usage in Tampere or Finland seemed almost non-existent.
Two experts were interviewed: prof. Heikki Liimatainen from Tampere University and Mr. Timo Harju from the city of Jyväskylä, who has been involved with the hydrogen bus pilot in Jyväskylä. They were chosen because of their different areas of expertise that could offer useful data in this study. The interviews were conducted in person or via email.
The key results show that the technology behind hydrogen fuel cell electric buses is ready, but its price needs to come down for their adoption to become more economically viable. The price of hydrogen is also crucial. The hydrogen bus pilot in Jyväskylä will give a lot of useful data about the application of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in practice. These results mean that while battery electric buses will likely be the dominant bus type in the future, hydrogen fuel cell electric buses could be useful as well if planned properly.
The study concluded that adopting hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in the public transport system of Tampere could be possible under the right circumstances, and for certain use cases. The costs of the hydrogen and the fuel cell inside the hydrogen bus will likely be the most important factors. The study also suggests that hydrogen buses likely could not replace battery electric buses in most scenarios, however they could be suited for certain longer bus routes that Tampere operates.
This study examined the opportunities and challenges of adopting hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Tampere, Finland. A theoretical foundation was established with a literature review. Expert interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the topic, as well as to answer questions related to Tampere specifically, since literature about hydrogen bus usage in Tampere or Finland seemed almost non-existent.
Two experts were interviewed: prof. Heikki Liimatainen from Tampere University and Mr. Timo Harju from the city of Jyväskylä, who has been involved with the hydrogen bus pilot in Jyväskylä. They were chosen because of their different areas of expertise that could offer useful data in this study. The interviews were conducted in person or via email.
The key results show that the technology behind hydrogen fuel cell electric buses is ready, but its price needs to come down for their adoption to become more economically viable. The price of hydrogen is also crucial. The hydrogen bus pilot in Jyväskylä will give a lot of useful data about the application of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in practice. These results mean that while battery electric buses will likely be the dominant bus type in the future, hydrogen fuel cell electric buses could be useful as well if planned properly.
The study concluded that adopting hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in the public transport system of Tampere could be possible under the right circumstances, and for certain use cases. The costs of the hydrogen and the fuel cell inside the hydrogen bus will likely be the most important factors. The study also suggests that hydrogen buses likely could not replace battery electric buses in most scenarios, however they could be suited for certain longer bus routes that Tampere operates.
Kokoelmat
- Kandidaatintutkielmat [10839]