B.C. is hitting the brakes on its $90 million fleet of hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses.

The zero-emission buses were unveiled in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, and helped get people around Whistler during the games.

But less than five years later, the wheels on the 20 buses no longer go anywhere. The entire fleet sits parked at the Whistler transit yard, and B.C. Transit is asking for offers.

The Crown corporation issued a statement saying it could still repower or repurpose the buses, but it’s seen “sufficient market interest” to warrant putting them up for sale.

“B.C. Transit has not indicated a suggested purchase price nor is B.C. Transit committed to sell the buses after reviewing any offers,” the company said.

The call for offers closes on Dec. 19.

The union representing B.C. Transit bus operators and mechanics said it isn’t sure who’d want the vehicles, whose fuel had to be trucked in from Quebec.

“They’re an extremely expensive item. They’re over three times the cost to purchase of what a conventional bus is,” said Ben Williams, president of Unifor Local 333.

The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association said it’s disappointed in B.C.’s decision, and that retrofitting the buses to run on other fuel would be very expensive.

With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Mi-Jung Lee