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 also 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 response to The Star.
Minister Chang Lin Kang mentioned the pilot, which may also contain cell hydrogen fuelling stations, is a part of Malaysia’s aim 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 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 part of a clear power portfolio. As a carbon-neutral power supply, hydrogen provides inclusivity and advantages for business stakeholders,” he instructed the publication.
Chang added that his ministry will retain using one of many Mirais to advertise using hydrogen. “We’ll carry within the Mirai and conduct promotional actions. This can 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 might be fuelled by the aforementioned cell hydrogen stations arrange in both Putrajaya or Cyberjaya. “The whole finances for the Cellular Hydrogen Refuelling Station (MHRS) cyber venture is round RM12 million, with increased 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 growing a Hydrogen Financial system and Know-how Roadmap (HETR) to place the nation throughout the profitable world hydrogen ecosystem, projected to be price US$189.19bil (RM834.33bil) by 2050. “The hydrogen economic system is seen as a viable resolution to Malaysia’s financial challenges, which embody plans to part 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 gasoline reserves could 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 one more decade, because the nation has but to provide 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, speedy improvement in freight transportation with gasoline cell know-how, with firms like Hyzon, Hyundai and Nikola making important progress,” he mentioned, including that Malaysia’s hydrogen economic system objectives prolong past mobility, encompassing your complete 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 gasoline prices, particularly for eco-friendly inexperienced hydrogen. Manufacturing of the gasoline at present 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 spread of 800km.
Nevertheless, the change to focused subsidies will regularly slim the price hole between petrol/diesel and new power sources. This might be helped by the import, excise and street tax exemptions for hydrogen automobiles, much like EVs, as a part of HETR. Subsidies may also be provided, akin to these China at present offers for EVs.
Malaysia can be working to part out gray hydrogen, produced utilizing fossil fuels reminiscent of pure gasoline and coal, in favour of blue hydrogen that provides carbon seize and storage know-how to scale back emissions. The final word aim is the transition to inexperienced hydrogen that’s made utilizing renewable power, decreasing dependency on fossil fuels and mitigating local weather change by way of carbon impartial initiatives.
GALLERY: 2024 Toyota Mirai and cell hydrogen station in Malaysia
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