SEDC gets greenlight to start hydrogen bus service

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The hydrogen-fuel buses.

KUCHING: Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) has received approval from Road Transport Department (RTD) and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) for the commissioning of its hydrogen bus service in Kuching, which will have its trial run from August 1 to 14.

This was announced by SEDC general manager Abdul Hadi Datuk Abdul Kadir, saying three buses would be involved in the trial run.

The routes covered would be the Kuching Waterfront to Damai Beach in Santubong, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman Yaakub to Medan Niaga Kubah Ria, Jalan Abell, Jalan Padungan, Jalan Sentral Timur, Jalan Tun Haji Openg, Jalan Satok, Jalan Kulas, Jalan Muda Hashim, and Jalan Datuk Ajibah Abol.

Hadi, however, said the buses would not be ferrying any passengers during the trial run, “because we need to monitor their performances, and to address any refuelling issues that may arise due to factors such as the weather, heavy traffic and so forth.

“Members of the public can look forward to using such facilities, which is the first of its kind in the country.”

According to Hadi, the trial run would be closely monitored by officers from SEDC and engineers from Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), Foshan Feichi Automobile Manufacturing Co Ltd of China, and Linde Hydrogen FuelTech.

He added that the trial run would test the buses on the consumption level of hydrogen fuel, to determine the filling capacity, and the optimisation of the hydrogen plant operation.