Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) Chang Lih Kang announced that Malaysia is ready for hydrogen-powered car technology.
Chang emphasised the potential economic benefits, estimating that Malaysia could generate RM12 billion from green hydrogen exports by 2030, according to Malay Mail.
He highlighted the readiness of technological resources and the availability of hydrogen cars. Chang stressed the importance of simultaneously creating both supply and demand for hydrogen technology, particularly in the mobility sector, to establish a robust ecosystem.
The minister also underscored the advantages of hydrogen-powered cars or fuel cell electric vehicles (EV), including their short refuelling time of three to five minutes, longer range (700km to 1,000km per refuelling), and lighter weight compared to other EVs.
Furthermore, Chang stressed that transitioning to hydrogen energy is vital for Malaysia to achieve cleaner energy and fulfil its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
He also announced plans to launch a mobile hydrogen refuelling unit in Putrajaya by year-end. However, Chang acknowledged that commercialising hydrogen-powered cars is yet to be realised, noting the challenge of competing with heavily subsidised petrol in Malaysia.
