Medway Liberal Democrats call for the conversion of Medway's bus fleet to hydrogen-powered vehicles 

Medway continues to receive old and polluting bus stock, this means our buses are diesel-powered, and are partly responsible for some of the high levels of particulate matter found in local air pollution.

A fully zero-emission bus fleet using hydrogen buses would help to reduce Medway's carbon footprint. Our local public transport is in dire need of a green energy revolution with significant investment to help decarbonise our towns. Under the Conservatives, our local bus services were neglected and Labour is failing to revolutionise our buses.

Buses already contribute to our environmental goals by removing cars from the road but Medway Liberal Democrats believe more can be done for bus operators to lead the shift away from fossil fuels towards cleaner vehicles, to transition from inefficient and unreliable vehicles to a new, greener and dependable fleet. Due to its versatility, abundance, and practical benefits, hydrogen offers one of the main pathways to decarbonisation. The only by-product of the fuel cell is water, leading to cleaner air.

Putting hydrogen infrastructure in place would allow other services to use it and help the council and local area to meet climate change goals. For instance, waste and recycling vehicles could also switch to hydrogen fuel cells and will help Medway Council transition to zero-emission fleets and achieve net-zero targets.

An investment by the council in bus hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the widespread adoption of hydrogen buses in our area as a sustainable transportation solution.

John Castle, Medway Liberal Democrat spokesperson, said: “Hydrogen power could have a “huge potential” if implemented in Medway. These vehicles will release only water vapour. It is an excellent example of where locally we can help to make zero emissions a sustainable reality. Additionally, residents would enjoy smoother and quieter journeys and hydrogen fuel-cell buses have a greater range and longer run time than battery electric buses.

Liberal Democrats would decarbonise Medway, creating a hydrogen bus revolution and ensuring our communities are greener and cleaner for all, by converting the Medway’s fleet of buses from diesel guzzlers to ultra-low emission technology, we can ensure that our towns roads and highways are greener and quieter and the air is cleaner. It’s already being done successfully in Surrey, Liverpool and the West Midlands.”

The council has an important role in reducing emissions from buses and committing Medway to remove diesel buses and deliver bus services using clean, green energy. Changing to hydrogen would significantly go some way to help the council's emission reduction strategies. Targeted at buses and recycling vehicles, this could be an effective tool to reduce pollutant concentrations in order to help achieve local air quality objectives.

ENDS