The Sarawak authorities could also be main the cost in terms of hydrogen energy, Peninsular Malaysia isn’t too far behind. The ministry of science, know-how and innovation (MOSTI) may also be bringing in three items of the Toyota Mirai to be trialled on the western aspect of the nation within the first quarter of 2025, in response to The Star.
Minister Chang Lin Kang mentioned the pilot, which may also contain cellular hydrogen fuelling stations, is a part of Malaysia’s purpose to have equal gross sales of hydrogen, petrol and electrical automobiles by 2050. “This initiative is a step in direction of establishing Malaysia as a frontrunner in clear vitality within the area.
“The imaginative and prescient for a hydrogen financial system positions hydrogen as a clear, low-carbon vitality supply that’s able to changing conventional fossil fuels and turning into a key element of a clear vitality portfolio. As a carbon-neutral vitality supply, hydrogen affords inclusivity and advantages for business stakeholders,” he informed the publication.
Chang added that his ministry will retain the usage of one of many Mirais to advertise the usage of hydrogen. “We’ll convey 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 mentioned, including that it’s important for the federal government to advertise hydrogen vehicles along with EVs, on condition that the previous solely emits water.
The three vehicles will probably be fuelled by the aforementioned cellular hydrogen stations arrange in both Putrajaya or Cyberjaya. “The full funds for the Cell Hydrogen Refuelling Station (MHRS) cyber venture is round RM12 million, with larger preliminary value because it’s the primary within the peninsula,” Chang mentioned.
The transfer to trial hydrogen-powered automobiles is in step with Chang’s feedback in October 2023, throughout which he mentioned MOSTI was creating a Hydrogen Economic system and Expertise Roadmap (HETR) to place the nation inside the profitable world hydrogen ecosystem, projected to be value US$189.19bil (RM834.33bil) by 2050. “The hydrogen financial system is seen as a viable resolution to Malaysia’s financial challenges, which embrace plans to section out petrol subsidies,” he mentioned.
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 response to the reserves life index. However Chang nonetheless doesn’t anticipate hydrogen vehicles to be well-liked for an additional 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 may be, nonetheless, speedy improvement in freight transportation with gasoline cell know-how, with corporations like Hyzon, Hyundai and Nikola making vital progress,” he mentioned, including that Malaysia’s hydrogen financial system targets lengthen past mobility, encompassing the whole hydrogen worth chain together with manufacturing, transportation, storage and end-use in industries, energy era and transportation.
The opposite drawback dissuading wider adoption is hydrogen gasoline prices, particularly for eco-friendly inexperienced hydrogen. Manufacturing of the gasoline presently prices round US$6 (RM28.15) per kilogram, that means {that a} full tank of 5.65 kg for the Mirai would value round US$33.90 (RM159) for a variety of 800km.
Nevertheless, the change to focused subsidies will step by step slender the price hole between petrol/diesel and new vitality sources. This will probably be helped by the import, excise and highway tax exemptions for hydrogen automobiles, just like EVs, as a part of HETR. Subsidies may also be supplied, akin to these China presently gives for EVs.
Malaysia can also be working to section out gray hydrogen, produced utilizing fossil fuels reminiscent of pure fuel and coal, in favour of blue hydrogen that provides carbon seize and storage know-how to cut back emissions. The last word purpose is the transition to inexperienced hydrogen that’s made utilizing renewable vitality, lowering dependency on fossil fuels and mitigating local weather change by means of carbon impartial initiatives.
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Mirai and cellular hydrogen station in Malaysia
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