Groundbreaking: The Chinese-made tram is the world’s first to be powered by hydrogen.
PETALING JAYA: The world’s first hydrogen-powered tram, developed in China, is on its way from its production site in Hunan province to Malaysia where it will be a prototype for Kuching’s urban transport system.
It will be shipped from Shanghai to be used as part of Kuching’s autonomous rapid transit (ART) system, China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported.
According to the report, the smart tram has the advantages of longer driving range and shorter refuelling time, besides providing energy saving and environmental protection advantages.
“It has been upgraded through intelligent design, which is in line with the needs of Malaysia in achieving a zero-emission and intelligent public transport system,” CGTN said.
Upon arrival in Malaysia, the tram will go through a three-month test period in Kuching.
If it is successfully implemented, the smart tram will ease traffic congestion in the city, providing commuters a reliable and efficient service.
The tram was developed by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation subsidiary Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co Ltd.
This move would also help China’s smart manufacturing serve the countries along its Belt and Road initiative, said the report. On July 12, Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said the tram would undergo a two-month engineering run in preparation for a proof of concept (POC) exercise in November.
“Stage one of the POC exercise was conducted in China in February,” he said then.
Lee, who had inspected the progress of the ART track construction in Samarahan on July 11, had voiced confidence that phase one of the Kuching urban transport system would be completed as scheduled.
