Hydrogen buses limp at an EROI of 0.5 to 1.5.

Losses via Gibbs free energy (237 kJ/mol to split H2O) and compression (20% of H2’s 120 MJ/kg.)

Barely cash in on the H2-O2 reaction (ΔH = -285.8 kJ/mol).

Battery buses, powered by lithium-ion cells, hit EROI of 2 to 4.

Redox heavy lithium mining (150 MJ/kg) drags it all down.

Charge-discharge losses (90% Coulombic efficiency)+ 5-10% capacity fade after 1000 cycles.

All trails diesel’s 5-10 EROI and 46 MJ/kg density.