Hydrogen buses to debut in Kuching in March
KUCHING: Hydrogen fuel- cell buses are expected to make their much-awaited debut on the roads of Kuching City by March next year, and rides for the pilot three buses could be free for the public.
This is made possible after Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Foshan Feishi Automobile Manufacture Co Ltd China signed a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) for the supply and delivery of hydrogen fuel- cell buses to the Sarawak government.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who witnessed the signing ceremony, disclosed that three units of buses will be used as pilot vehicles first to gain confidence from the public.
“These buses are expected to arrive next March. We will try three buses first, as part of our pilot project and research (to improve and provide better public transportation system),” he told reporters yesterday after he witnessed the MoU signing ceremony.
When asked on the cost of each bus, he said it is being negotiated but he assured that it will not be expensive.
Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari said the state government is considering free rides for both locals and tourists to use these hydrogen cell buses when they arrive for the trial run.
He also mentioned that the cost of such public transportation will be cheap, considering the fact that hydrogen is extracted from water which is abundant in Sarawak, unlike other types of buses for which the cost is tied to the global price of fuel.
He added the hydrogen production plant and fuelling station built by Sarawak Energy Berhad ( SEB) is now under construction and expected to be ready when the hydrogen cell buses are delivered.
“In Sarawak, sometimes the public can be quite sceptical. When we talk about hydrogen, they think about hydrogen bomb. I have to educate people first. That is why the pilot project is important.
“We can see the success of other countries such as Germany and China in implementing this. But we want to convince Sarawakians first,” he said.
He also hoped the federal government will also play its part by upgrading the vehicle registration process at Road Transport Department (JPJ) to include vehicles fuelled by hydrogen through water- based system.
This is because Sarawak will be the first state to introduce such vehicles, thus making Kuching the first city to have such hydrogen fuel- cell buses as a form of public transportation.
On a related matter, he conceded that he had to slow down or postpone the implementation of light rail transit ( LRT) in Sarawak to enable more funds to
These buses are expected to arrive next March. We will try three buses first, as part of our pilot project and research (to improve and provide better public transportation system).
be allocated to improve facilities and infrastructure in the rural areas.
Despite that, he expressed confidence that hydrogen fuelcell buses can improve the state’s public transport system which is under pressure as 60 per cent of the state’s population reside in urban areas.
A bang J oh ari also spoke about the possibility of Sarawak exporting hydrogen energy through Petros, as extra income for the state. He noted that scientific research is being done to make it possible to transport hydrogen almost in the same manner as LNG cylinders.
Signing the MoU for SEDC was its general manager Soedirman Aini with chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain as witness, while Foshan Feichi Automobile was represented by its general manager Jiang Yong, witnessed by project director Lu Yong.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said the hydrogen powered vehicle project is part of the hydrogen fuel- cell research and development programme undertaken by the government of Sarawak.
He added this was in line with the aspirations of the Chief Minister who had earlier announced that the state government would be allocating funds for the research, which will also include the setting up of a plant with foreign expertise to produce hydrogen gas to power the vehicles.
“The emission- free bus programme is part of the state’s long term plan to ensure that Sarawak’s public transportation system is run on clean energy, in tandem with current worldwide trend to protect the environment. The current reliance on fossil fuel to power industries and vehicles is unsustainable, both environmentally and economically.
“Not only are the fossil fuels diminishing and irreplaceable, they are also causing environmental damage and directly contributing to global warming. Several countries have initiated the move to cut down or restrict carbon dioxide (C02) emission and turn to other renewable energy including hydrogen (H2) as their alternative,” he said.
He also mentioned there was a growing belief amongst policy makers that hydrogen is the fuel of the future and holds the prospect of sustainable energy where the production of energy can be done without releasing harmful gases to the atmosphere.
“Hydrogen is considered as storage for electric energy. Used in fuel cells, it can drive electric motors in electric cars, buses, trains and even boats and ships.
“Blessed with cheap source of power from the hydroelectric dams, I think Sarawak can produce enough green hydrogen from electrolysis as a fuel to run its entire transport sector in the future and one day it can also export hydrogen to other parts of the world,” he said.
Present were Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office ( Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip and Deputy State Secretary Datu Jaul Samion.
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister