KUCHING: Sarawak Metro showcased hydrogen buses to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (UNIMAS) students and lecturers, offering practical exposure to fuel cell technology in public transport.
The visit to Sarawak Metro’s hydrogen bus depot at Sarawak Skills campus provided 43 UNIMAS students and six lecturers practical exposure to hydrogen fuel cell technology in public transport, enhancing their understanding of sustainable energy systems and supporting their ongoing course-related projects.
Chief executive officer of Sarawak Metro, Mazli Mustaffa, expressed his appreciation for the initiative taken by the UNIMAS students and lecturers in organising the educational visit to the hydrogen bus depot.
“Whenever possible, we always welcome requests from academic institutions to organise study visits to see the hydrogen buses up close, to allow their students to learn more about the hydrogen-based powertrain technology.
“I believe such initiatives will benefit the industry in the long run by helping to nurture a pool of young talent to support Sarawak’s vision of becoming a hydrogen economy and green energy hub,” he said.
Previously used for trial operation by Sarawak Metro, the three hydrogen buses now continue to serve as assets for education and research, particularly in the field of hydrogen technology.
The buses also contribute to an operational experience throughout the trial period, strengthening technical knowledge and capabilities of Sarawak Metro’s local workforce.
“Through the trial operation, the hydrogen buses had successfully fulfilled their objective of gathering critical operational data and technical insights in preparation for the rollout of a larger hydrogen-powered public transport fleet, expected to arrive in phases beginning in the second half of 2026,” he said.
Mazli noted that the initiative since 2020 has raised public awareness on the safety, reliability and environmental benefits of hydrogen fuel technology.
“Our engineers, technicians, and drivers acquired valuable hands-on expertise in operating and maintaining hydrogen-powered vehicles, preparing us well for the upcoming passenger service operations of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS),” he added.
