Sarawak State Govt. To Endorse Hydrogen-Powered ART Vehicles Including Buses

The prototype hydrogen-powered ART vehicle undergoing Stage 1 of the proof-of-concept exercise in Zhuzhou, China - photo credits to Borneo Post

The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) announced its plans to encourage the use of hydrogen-powered public transport vehicles between locals and within the state. 

Said movement was in line with the firm’s mission to further include hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicles and buses too.

According to SEDC Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain, he remarked that one unit of ART vehicles will be assessed on Kota Samarahan highways for a year.

The chairman further added that another ART vehicle is expected to assemble in 2024. Adding on to that, only then the Sarawak state government will continue to begin its commercial operations somewhere in 2025.

“Bit by bit, maybe three or four units at one time,” he answered to the media when asked about his expectation for arriving ART vehicle units next year.  He continues by saying that these upcoming ART vehicles will be released in batches.

This particular hydrogen fuel-powered ART system comprises a trackless tramway that is mainly outfitted with rubber tires applied to operate on tarmac instead of on rails.

As mentioned above, such material performs better than rails, which trains typically require. These are also capable of driving themselves along virtual routes under the guidance of road signs, according to Borneo Post in a recent article on three hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai sedans that were presented to the Deputy Premiers.

As the state government decided to use this system, it has an ample capacity that affords 241 passengers including an adjusted seating arrangement that could travel at more than 70 KM/H.

Technical details on this Chinese-based ART vehicle further include body dimensions of 30.2 meters in length, 2.65 meters in width, and 3.7 meters in height. Back in January this year, the chairman did mention the need to produce hydrogen to power the state’s ART system in 2024.

“We will require about two tonnes of hydrogen a day for the ART next year and we need to ramp this up to five tonnes a day.

“As such, we need to produce electrolyzers for that, and we want to produce our own. We don’t want to import from other countries and add to the cost,” he was quoted as saying then.

Sarawak Metro Chief Executive Officer Mazli Mustaffa also mentioned the prototype vehicle of Sarawak’s hydrogen-powered ART is scheduled to be delivered to Kuching by the second quarter of this year.

This further aligns with the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) Project to remark its success of prototype hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) vehicle's manufacturing and assembly in Zhuzhou, China earlier in March.

Source: Borneo Post