In order to further promote its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, Hokkaido University will begin operating a fuel cell (FC) bus as a campus shuttle bus from March 10, 2026, in cooperation with the city of Sapporo.
This initiative is being carried out as part of the Regional Decarbonization Transition and Renewable Energy Promotion Project (Decarbonization Leading Region Development Project) *2, which was selected by the Ministry of the Environment as a "Decarbonization Leading Region*1." Hokkaido University is participating in this project as a co-proposer. The FC bus that will be introduced as a campus loop bus was introduced by Sapporo City as part of its efforts to demonstrate the operation of hydrogen vehicles in cold regions and promote hydrogen energy, and will be loaned to the university free of charge.
Overview of FC bus introduction
- Number of buses in operation: 1 (operated as a campus shuttle bus)
- Implementation period: From March 2026 to October 2021
*From September 2026 to February 2027, this bus will not operate as a campus shuttle bus as it will be used within Sapporo City.
During this period, the service will operate using two existing vehicles. - Expected CO₂ reduction effect: Approximately 20 t-CO₂ reduction per year (zero CO₂ emissions during driving, only water emissions)
The introduction of these FC buses marks a major step towards realizing Hokkaido University's goal of a "sustainable well-being society." Hokkaido University will continue to promote the creation of a campus with a low environmental impact and work with the local community to achieve carbon neutrality.
*The campus shuttle bus is a bus that operates for on-campus business purposes.
The general public and tourists are not allowed to ride.
As a general rule, students and graduate students of this university are not permitted to ride buses for the purpose of traveling to and from club activities, traveling during class hours, or commuting to school.
(You can ride if you are traveling within the campus for research purposes or if you have an injury that makes it difficult for you to walk.)
For more information, please visit the Hokkaido University Facilities Department website.
Fuel cell (FC) bus image
*1: Ministry of the Environment "Decarbonization Leading Region"
A region that aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by achieving virtually zero CO₂ emissions from electricity consumption in the civilian sector (residential and commercial sectors) and achieving reductions in other greenhouse gas emissions, including from the transportation sector and heat utilization, that are consistent with Japan's national target for fiscal 2030, in accordance with regional characteristics.
*2: Sapporo City's "Regional Decarbonization Transition and Renewable Energy Promotion Project Plan (Decarbonization Leading Regional Development Project)"
Sapporo City, in collaboration with Hokkaido University, Hokkaido Gas, Hokkaido Heat Supply Corporation, Hokkaido Electric Power Company, and the North Tech Foundation, applied for and was selected in the second public call for applications for the Ministry of the Environment's "Decarbonization Pioneer Region." To address Sapporo's regional challenges of "improving winter living convenience in snowy, cold regions," "population decline," and "aging urban infrastructure and improving resilience in the event of a disaster," the city will implement initiatives aimed at achieving net-zero CO2 emissions from electricity consumption in the civilian sector by 2030 in the Decarbonization Pioneer Region (private facilities in central Sapporo, hydrogen model blocks, Hokkaido University's northern campus, public facilities, and Olympic and Paralympic facilities).