The Sarawak authorities could also be main the cost on the subject of 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 cell hydrogen fuelling stations, is a part of Malaysia’s purpose to have equal gross sales of hydrogen, petrol and electrical autos 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 changing into a key element of a clear vitality portfolio. As a carbon-neutral vitality supply, hydrogen provides inclusivity and advantages for trade 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 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 will probably be fuelled by the aforementioned cell hydrogen stations arrange in both Putrajaya or Cyberjaya. “The entire price range for the Cellular Hydrogen Refuelling Station (MHRS) cyber venture is round RM12 million, with greater preliminary value because it’s the primary within the peninsula,” Chang stated.
The transfer to trial hydrogen-powered autos is in step with Chang’s feedback in October 2023, throughout which he stated MOSTI was growing a Hydrogen Financial system and Expertise Roadmap (HETR) to place the nation inside the profitable world hydrogen ecosystem, projected to be price 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 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 widespread 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 at present provided on the market.
“There’s, nonetheless, fast improvement in freight transportation with gasoline cell know-how, with corporations like Hyzon, Hyundai and Nikola making important progress,” he stated, including that Malaysia’s hydrogen financial system targets prolong past mobility, encompassing the whole hydrogen worth chain together with manufacturing, transportation, storage and end-use in industries, energy technology and transportation.
The opposite drawback dissuading wider adoption is hydrogen gasoline prices, particularly for eco-friendly inexperienced hydrogen. Manufacturing of the gasoline at present prices round US$6 (RM28.15) per kilogram, which means {that a} full tank of 5.65 kg for the Mirai would value round US$33.90 (RM159) for a spread of 800km.
Nonetheless, the swap to focused subsidies will steadily slender the fee hole between petrol/diesel and new vitality sources. This will probably be helped by the import, excise and highway tax exemptions for hydrogen autos, much like EVs, as a part of HETR. Subsidies may even be provided, akin to these China at present offers for EVs.
Malaysia can be working to section out gray hydrogen, produced utilizing fossil fuels resembling 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 carbon impartial initiatives.
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Mirai and cell hydrogen station in Malaysia
Seeking to promote your automobile? Promote it with Carro.
