Pau hydrogen bus fleet abandoned after costly failure

Eight hydrogen buses were inaugurated in Pau in 2020 by President Emmanuel Macron as a showcase of France's green transition. The project, known as Fébus and backed by former mayor François Bayrou, required an initial investment of €74.5 million and incurs operating costs of more than €1 million per year. After the Belgian manufacturer Van Hool declared bankruptcy in 2024, spare‑parts supplies were cut off, leaving two‑thirds of the fleet idle. The city is now phasing out the hydrogen buses in favor of electric and hybrid models, highlighting concerns over public‑sector spending amid a €6 billion budget overshoot reported for the first half of 2026.

The failure underscores criticism of large‑scale, poorly vetted technology investments by French authorities and adds to broader debates on fiscal responsibility.