A new type of public transportation, the hydrogen-powered "smart tram," has begun testing in Kuching, Malaysia. These trams are driverless and follow painted lines on the road, similar to self-driving cars. The first 38 trams are expected to be running on three lines in Kuching by 2025.
The trams are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which can travel 245 kilometres on a single charge. They can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and carry up to 307 passengers.
Sarawak, the Malaysian state where Kuching is located, is actively promoting hydrogen as a clean energy source. The state government has invested in the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and infrastructure.
It is not yet clear where the hydrogen to run the trams will come from, but the state government has said that it will need five tonnes of hydrogen per day once the system is fully operational.
The 38 trams will be delivered from China in batches over the next two years. Roads in Kuching are being modified to separate the trams from regular traffic. This is partly for safety reasons and partly to prevent traffic jams from slowing down the trams.
Overall, the hydrogen-powered smart tram is seen as a new and innovative form of public transportation and has the potential to reduce pollution in some heavily polluted areas of cities which struggle with poor traffic flow.
“The smart tram is the first to adopt a hydrogen energy power system, which has the advantages of longer driving range and shorter refuelling time [than the battery model], as well as energy saving and environmental protection,” said CRRC.
The Smart-tram follows from Alstom’s Coradia I-lint which is the first hydrogen powered passenger train which has entered into commercial service across much of mainland Europe since its first introduction in 2018.
Photo: PT CMIC
