The Sarawak authorities could also be main the cost relating to hydrogen energy, Peninsular Malaysia isn’t too far behind. The ministry of science, know-how and innovation (MOSTI) may even be bringing in three models of the Toyota Mirai to be trialled on the western facet of the nation within the first quarter of 2025, in keeping with The Star.
Minister Chang Lin Kang stated the pilot, which may even contain cellular hydrogen fuelling stations, is a part of Malaysia’s objective to have equal gross sales of hydrogen, petrol and electrical automobiles by 2050. “This initiative is a step in the direction of establishing Malaysia as a frontrunner in clear power within the area.
“The imaginative and prescient for a hydrogen economic system positions hydrogen as a clear, low-carbon power supply that’s able to changing conventional fossil fuels and turning into a key element of a clear power portfolio. As a carbon-neutral power supply, hydrogen presents inclusivity and advantages for business stakeholders,” he advised the publication.
Chang added that his ministry will retain the usage of one of many Mirais to advertise the usage of hydrogen. “We’ll carry within the Mirai and conduct promotional actions. It will function an illustration of {our capability}, proving that it’s road-ready and can be utilized successfully,” he stated, including that it’s important for the federal government to advertise hydrogen automobiles along with EVs, on condition that the previous solely emits water.
The three automobiles might be fuelled by the aforementioned cellular hydrogen stations arrange in both Putrajaya or Cyberjaya. “The entire funds for the Cellular Hydrogen Refuelling Station (MHRS) cyber venture is round RM12 million, with increased preliminary price because it’s the primary within the peninsula,” Chang stated.
The transfer to trial hydrogen-powered automobiles is in step with Chang’s feedback in October 2023, throughout which he stated MOSTI was creating a Hydrogen Financial system and Know-how Roadmap (HETR) to place the nation throughout the profitable international hydrogen ecosystem, projected to be value US$189.19bil (RM834.33bil) by 2050. “The hydrogen economic system is seen as a viable answer to Malaysia’s financial challenges, which embody plans to section out petrol subsidies,” he stated.
The necessity to shift away from petrol energy is urgently wanted because it’s been reported that Malaysia’s oil and fuel reserves might solely final one other 15 years, in keeping with the reserves life index. However Chang nonetheless doesn’t anticipate hydrogen automobiles to be standard for one more decade, because the nation has but to supply its personal and even on the worldwide scale, solely the Mirai and the soon-to-be-replaced Hyundai Nexo are presently supplied on the market.
“There’s, nevertheless, fast improvement in freight transportation with gas cell know-how, with firms like Hyzon, Hyundai and Nikola making vital progress,” he stated, including that Malaysia’s hydrogen economic system targets lengthen past mobility, encompassing all the hydrogen worth chain together with manufacturing, transportation, storage and end-use in industries, energy era and transportation.
The opposite downside dissuading wider adoption is hydrogen gas prices, particularly for eco-friendly inexperienced hydrogen. Manufacturing of the gas presently prices round US$6 (RM28.15) per kilogram, that means {that a} full tank of 5.65 kg for the Mirai would price round US$33.90 (RM159) for a variety of 800km.
Nevertheless, the swap to focused subsidies will steadily slim the fee hole between petrol/diesel and new power sources. This might be helped by the import, excise and highway tax exemptions for hydrogen automobiles, just like EVs, as a part of HETR. Subsidies may even be supplied, akin to these China presently gives for EVs.
Malaysia can be working to section out gray hydrogen, produced utilizing fossil fuels comparable to pure fuel and coal, in favour of blue hydrogen that provides carbon seize and storage know-how to scale back emissions. The last word objective is the transition to inexperienced hydrogen that’s made utilizing renewable power, lowering dependency on fossil fuels and mitigating local weather change via carbon impartial initiatives.
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Mirai and cellular hydrogen station in Malaysia
Trying to promote your automobile? Promote it with Carro.
