FOR traders at Taman Pulai Indah night market in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, switching from petrol-powered generator sets to silent power inverters has brought a welcome change to their nightly business routine.
After about two months of using the technology, some say they are spending less on fuel, while others have noticed how much easier it is to serve customers without the constant loud rumble of a generator.
Yong tau foo seller Nik Fauziah Ismail, 46, said switching to a power inverter in August reduced her daily operating costs.
“I used to spend about RM10 on a bottle of petrol, which would last a day or a day-and-a-half to run my stall.
“Now, I simply take the inverter home and charge it overnight.
“I have not noticed any significant increase in my electricity bill at home, but my petrol expenses have gone down significantly,” she told StarMetro.
Nik Fauziah, who runs the stall with her sister and niece from 7pm to 11pm, said the inverter device usually retained leftover power when they pack up for the night.
Beyond the cost savings, she welcomed the quieter environment and cleaner air.
“We still have the generator on standby, but we have not used it since making the switch.
“I hope more traders adopt this technology because we no longer have to put up with the fumes and it saves money too,” she said.
Sarawak mee kolok seller Rabiah Jolen, 52, said the absence of generator noise made it easier to speak with customers.
“The noise from my generator used to make it difficult to hear orders clearly.
“Now, I can take orders without struggling to hear over the engine,” she said.
Rabiah said she only needed to charge the inverter once every two days to power the stall’s lights and fan for about five hours each night.
She also welcomed the savings on petrol, which had previously contributed to her monthly fuel expenses.
“I no longer need to buy petrol for the generator set.
“The best part is that I now have extra Budi95 fuel quota left each month because I no longer waste part of it on operating the generator,” she said.
For customers Noriza Nordin, 49, and her husband Azudin Mohd Anis, 54, the quieter surroundings have made the night market a more pleasant place to unwind after work.
The couple, who live nearby, enjoy the variety of food available, from nasi lemak to Sarawakian dishes.
“The reduced noise has contributed to a more comfortable atmosphere since traders began switching to power inverters.
“I hope other local councils will encourage the use of this technology, because it is more environmentally friendly and cuts down on noise and unpleasant smells for everyone,” said Noriza.
She also hoped the lower operating costs might help traders keep food prices affordable.
“Food prices are going up everywhere, so hopefully these savings help traders maintain their prices,” she said.
