SEB supports Dutchman’s project to showcase sustainable mobility via EV
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd has partnered with Wiebe Wakker of the ‘Plug Me In’ project to showcase sustainable mobility through electric vehicles ( EVs).
Wakker embarked on his solo journey on board an EV from the Netherlands on March 15 last year and is driving across the globe to reach his final destination, Australia.
The Dutch arrived in Sarawak earlier this week, having shipped his car from Port Klang to Kota Kinabalu and made his journey down here from there.
Sarawak Energy, in a statement here, said it was the first to introduce e-mobility to its fleet in 2014 as an initiative towards sustainability.
The partnership with Wakker was an effort to increase the awareness and usage of green vehicles in this part of the world.
Wakker shared with Sarawak Energy’s EV Team and other personnel his experience on the performance of EV for longdistance travel as well as the challenges faced, during a session at Menara Sarawak Energy here yesterday, which was also attended by the group executive vicepresident for corporate services Aisah Eden.
“As a state- owned energy development company and power utility, Sarawak Energy needs need to take proactive steps to reduce the state’s carbon footprint and to move towards energy efficient vehicles in order to promote sustainability.
“Sarawak is an ideal place to use elect rical vehicles. Electricity supply in Sarawak is predominantly provided from hydropower, which is renewable, reliable and affordable,” Aisah said.
Wakker’s journey was well documented on social media. Largely crowd- sourced, his journey has so far spanned across 30 countries, covering over 50,000km.
The intrepid traveller also works part-time to cover his costs, and relies on the generosity of his social media followers along the route for accommodation and electricity to charge his car.
“The ‘Plug Me In’ ( project) is my way of promoting sustainability through e- mobility. I make it a point to visit organisations, events and initiatives that promote sustainability and lead green initiatives.
“I found it fascinating that Sarawak Energy has such a strong focus on sustainability. I am very excited to be part of their journey through this partnership,” said Wakker when asked about what he was looking to achieve out of his journey.
On a related matter, Sarawak Energy said it introduced four Nissan Leaf EVs and 10 Eclimo Electric Scooters into their corporate fleet. Through the EV Volunteer Pilot Programme, Sarawak Energy employees are assigned EVs for daily use, giving them the opportunity to operate and understand the advancement in EV technologies.
This initiative also promotes awareness of the importance of environmental conservation a s wel l a s to enc ou r a ge the employees to look into environmentally-friendly modes of transportation.