By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, April 1: Sarawak will see more electric cars on the road from 2030 to 2050 as vehicle companies shift their business from producing fossil fuel-based engines to electric and hydrogen-based powertrains.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said when this happens, road users will have no choice but to follow suit in using electric cars in the future.
He explained that the move was necessary because it indicates the effort to control carbon emissions which causes pollution and to ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.
“There are not many vehicles using hydrogen-based engines (presently), but it will be encoded by phases the moment we have a lot of cars using hydrogen.
“On electric cars, we already have them in ‘hybrid’ (where hybrid electric vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor) and while electric cars are not that many, but people have started buying them because of the incentive given by the Federal government in terms of tax.
“Thus, in the future, due to our move towards a green economy, Sarawak has to prepare earlier because the transition to this green economy could be within 10 to 15 years,” he said at a press conference after launching Malaysia’s first ever Multifuel Refueling Station at Darul Hana today.
Abang Johari further added that a second multifuel refueling station is currently being built at MJC Batu Kawa and many more will be built throughout the State along the Pan Borneo Highway and the coastal highway.
Asked if there was any subsidy provided upon paying at such station using the Spay Global platform, Abang Johari said any payment using the app will definitely have a discount.
“All you need to do is perform the ‘shake’ feature on Spay Global (and the user will receive a rebate),” he added.
The Petros Multifuel Refueling Station is wholly built, owned and operated by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and its subsidiary SEDC Energy. — DayakDaily
