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Fuel Cell Electric Buses: A Systematic Literature Review

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  • Romeo Danielis

    (Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
    Interdepartmental Center “Giacomo Ciamician” for Energy, Environment, Transport, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Mariangela Scorrano

    (Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
    Interdepartmental Center “Giacomo Ciamician” for Energy, Environment, Transport, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Manuela Masutti

    (Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
    Area Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy)

  • Asees Muhammad Awan

    (Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Arsalan Muhammad Khan Niazi

    (Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of scientific papers and market reports analyzing the economic competitiveness of fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) with respect to their conventional alternatives via the total cost of ownership (TCO) methodology. We discussed the variables and data taken into account and compared the resulting outcomes by year and geographical areas. It emerged that FCBs are not currently cost competitive. The decreasing trend in acquisition and fuel costs, however, indicates potential for future competitiveness. We find that the current TCO literature on FCEBs presents several areas of uncertainty and weakness. Potential improvements can be achieved by: (i) extending the geographic coverage to Asian and African developing countries; (ii) making use of real-world data instead of simulated data, in particular, concerning acquisition costs, hydrogen costs under different pathways, fuel efficiency, and maintenance costs; (iii) clarifying the role of infrastructural costs; (iv) exploring the existence of economies of scale at fleet level; (v) distinguishing among different bus sizes.

Suggested Citation

  • Romeo Danielis & Mariangela Scorrano & Manuela Masutti & Asees Muhammad Awan & Arsalan Muhammad Khan Niazi, 2024. "Fuel Cell Electric Buses: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5096-:d:1498262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Ally, Jamie & Pryor, Trevor, 2016. "Life cycle costing of diesel, natural gas, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell bus systems: An Australian case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 285-294.
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    Cited by:

    1. Romeo Danielis & Arsalan Muhammad Khan Niazi & Mariangela Scorrano & Manuela Masutti & Asees Muhammad Awan, 2025. "The Economic Feasibility of Battery Electric Trucks: A Review of the Total Cost of Ownership Estimates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Aleksander Jagiełło, 2025. "Economic Efficiency of Sustainable Public Transport: A Literature Review on Electric and Diesel Buses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-22, March.
    3. JunYun Kim, 2025. "ESG and Carbon Leakage: How Cap‐and‐Trade Regulations Influence Firms' Emission Allocation Strategies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(6), pages 8562-8576, November.

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