The green energy ecosystem in Sarawak will be given another boost as Putrajaya has agreed to grant Approved Permit (AP) that allows the state to import electric vehicles (EV) and hydrogen-powered vehicles with tax exemption.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said these are the first incentives given to Sarawak from the federal government after briefing the federal cabinet and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Kuching last week, Daily Express reported.
A total of 1,000 EVs and hydrogen vehicles will be imported to Sarawak under these initiatives. The details of the said vehicles are yet to be revealed, though the state government has ordered 38 units of Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) vehicles as reported by media earlier this month.
Recent developments on the hydrogen economy front in the state involve plans to set up two new hydrogen plants in Bintulu Petchem Industrial Park by 2027 under projects dubbed as H2biscus and H2ornbill.
As for EV facilities, the first EV charging station with 180 kW DC fast charging capability has recently opened in Kuching under a joint collaboration between Sarawak Energy and Petronas’ Gentari.
A prototype hydrogen-powered ART – developed in China by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. – underwent trial in August 2023 while two or three more units are expected to be received next year. The ART vehicle powered exclusively by hydrogen fuel cells is part of Sarawak Metro’s Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.
Hydrogen-powered feeder buses undergoing trial in the capital city since January 2020 show good results and maintenance capabilities thus far. However, the arrival of new units has not been confirmed yet.
In January 2023, the state government received five units of Toyota Mirai FCEV from UMWT.
