Hydrogen Bus Fleet in Chełm Grounded Over Fuel Shortage

7 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Chełm hydrogen buses grounded after supplier failure; 26 hydrogen buses idle and nine lines suspended. What expats should know about disruptions and alternatives.

Chełm hydrogen buses failed to start on Friday, leaving large parts of the city without scheduled service. The city bought 26 modern hydrogen-powered buses last year for nearly PLN 97 million, and the supplier did not deliver fuel.

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What happened this week?

The city operates 26 hydrogen buses purchased from Polski Autobus Wodorowy. Moreover, the vehicles came from a factory in Świdnik. Consequently, Chełmskie Linie Autobusowe announced suspension of nine routes. In addition, operator cancelled selected runs on route 8. Therefore, commuters saw fewer buses on Friday and they will likely see problems on Saturday.

Chełm hydrogen buses grounded: why fuel ran out

PAK PCE holds a contract to supply hydrogen until 2031. However, the company reported an installation failure. Consequently, the operator could not refuel the fleet. Moreover, the company plans to source emergency hydrogen from other producers. But officials cannot yet confirm delivery dates. Therefore, the city activated a reserve fleet of diesel buses. In addition, five Solaris and four Nesobus vehicles returned to service. However, the reserves covered only three main lines: 1, 2 and 9. As a result, many routes remained suspended.

Regional context and repeated issues

This problem is not unique. Earlier this year, Lublin faced a similar outage. Moreover, that incident sidelined hydrogen vehicles at MPK Lublin. However, the public felt limited disruption there because Lublin ran only four hydrogen buses. In addition, several Polish cities now operate hydrogen fleets. Notably Poznań, Rzeszów and Wałbrzych run about 34 vehicles each. Therefore, operators and municipalities watch costs and reliability closely.

Why this matters for expats and residents

Hydrogen buses promised a clean alternative to diesel and electric buses. Moreover, EU grants offered near complete purchase funding. However, operational costs rose as hydrogen prices climbed. Consequently, fuel now costs about PLN 55 to 85 per kilogram. Therefore, driving 100 km can cost between roughly PLN 460 and over PLN 1000 in fuel. In addition, high operating costs changed many local procurement plans. As a result, some towns pause or cancel further hydrogen purchases.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you live in Chełm, expect short-term changes to public transport. Consequently, check local timetables and the operator’s social channels. Moreover, buy single tickets or short-term passes via apps when possible. In addition, some resident discounts require proof such as a PESEL number or a residence card, so carry proper ID. Furthermore, keep emergency taxi or rideshare apps handy. Finally, contact your employer if commuting delays affect work. Note: PESEL is the national ID number; ZUS handles social security and NFZ manages public health insurance.

City officials emphasize they will update riders when hydrogen deliveries restart. Moreover, analysts expect municipalities to reassess hydrogen strategies. Therefore, buyers may prefer electric buses or mixed fleets going forward.

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