Electric buses to ply city streets in 3 years — CM
KUCHING: Electric-powered buses are expected to dominate the streets of Kuching City within three years.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state cabinet had approved that all buses to be given to the public transport consortium here would be powered by electricity.
He said the Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had wanted to help improve the public transport system in the state and one of their recommendations was to give new buses that still use diesel.
“The state government has deliberated on this matter and it has decided that all buses to be used by the consortium in Kuching must be electricpowered buses,” he told a press conference after launching the new premises of InterContinental Travel Centre Sdn Bhd (ITC) here yesterday.
Abang Johari acknowledged there could be increases in cost if they were to purchase electricpowered buses but the state government would not mind even if the number of the initial fleet had to be reduced.
He said for example, if SPAD were to decide to give 100 buses to the consortium, the consortium might reduce the number to 50.
He also said the state government was also willing to help the consortium with part of the funding because it (govt) wanted to make sure that the public transport in Kuching is a clean public transport.
The chief minister said it was partly for that reason that the state government had decided that all public transport vehicles must be powered by electricity.
He believed that if implemented, it would definitely be a new service to tourists.
“SPAD wanted to help our consortium but the state government said if they want to help, we say ‘thank you’. Do not use diesel-powered buses because electric-powered buses are the norm these days.
“I believe, for the future, it is better that we use electricpowered buses.
He said while SPAD was of the opinion that it would be difficult for an electric bus to go up hills, the Pan Borneo Highway in fact has no more high-gradient stretches. Even the gradient at Bukit Bengunan would also be lowered.
The chief minister also believed that the charging of batteries should not be a problem.
“I have seen an electricpowered bus being used in London. Electricity posts are made available along roads for the buses to charge their batteries.
“Using electric buses is something practical. We can do it here. Our electricity tariff is very low,” he said.
He said electric-powered buses would make a clean environment and clean Kuching.
“This is something we are going to do within three years,” he said.
On hydrogen-powered buses, Abang Johari said they would have to build a hydrogen filling station first, in Bintawa, before the buses would come in the third quarter of this year.
He said three buses would be brought in here for trial with one to be given to Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) to provide free ride for the tourists.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and ITC managing director Dayang Azizah Abang Zaidan were also present at the press conference.