KUCHING: Hydrogen buses are a greener public transport option as costs were expected to reduce in the long term, says state Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
He said recent advancements in hydrogen production and fuel cell technology were expected to improve efficiency and reduce operation costs.
"As such, hydrogen buses offer a more sustainable option, which is in line with our green economy roadmap.
"We must take this opportunity to build a competitive edge, positioning Sarawak as a participant in the global green economy," he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Monday (Nov 18).
Lee was responding to the call by DAP's Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen for the state government to replace hydrogen buses with electric buses for the Kuching Urban Transportation System project.
Last week, when debating the 2025 state budget, Chong cited 10 city authorities worldwide which had tried using hydrogen buses and failed due to high operating costs.
However, Lee said Chong had referred to a website citing information dating back to 2001, while data from 2021 was collected during the Covid-19 pandemic when ridership was greatly reduced.
"This data is outdated and does not reflect the present realities of advancement in hydrogen technology," he said.
