Media Statement By Violet Yong：
I urge Sarawak GPS to reconsider the use of hydrogen buses for the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS), especially in light of recent reports exposing the significant challenges faced by hydrogen bus trials and deployments globally.
It is an undeniable fact that multiple cities and operators around the world have abandoned or canceled hydrogen bus plans due to high costs, operational issues, and reliability problems, including serious safety concerns such as explosions.
“It is impossible for Sarawak GPS leaders not to be aware of this reality.”
Sarawak GPS must avoid the risk of wasting taxpayers’ money on projects that have a high likelihood of failure, potentially becoming costly “white elephant” ventures. The potential safety hazards, including hydrogen-related explosions, further underscore the need for caution.
Let me highlight a few notable examples of such failures:
• De Lijn (Belgium): Discontinued the operation of five hydrogen buses in
Antwerp and dismantled a hydrogen filling station due to high costs and
operational difficulties, exacerbated by the bankruptcy of bus
manufacturer Van Hool.
• Poznan (Poland): Experienced simultaneous power failures across all 25
hydrogen-powered buses, forcing the city to revert to diesel buses.
• Pau (France): Abandoned its hydrogen bus fleet after four years of
operation due to excessively high maintenance costs.
• Montpellier (France): Canceled an order for 51 hydrogen-powered buses
when newly elected officials found that electric buses would be six times
cheaper to operate.
• Whistler (Canada): Faced exorbitant costs for hydrogen buses, fuel, and
maintenance, achieving only a 50% reduction in emissions.
• Iceland: Mothballed its hydrogen bus fleet after EU funding dried up.
• Perth (Australia): Abandoned its hydrogen bus trial altogether.
• Oslo (Norway): In 2019, a hydrogen refueling station exploded, leading to
the suspension of hydrogen buses and the abandonment of further trials in
the city.
• Seoul (South Korea): A hydrogen storage tank exploded during testing in 2019, raising significant concerns about the safety of hydrogen technology for public transport systems.
These examples should serve as a clear cautionary tale.
We are not against the improvement of our public transport system, but it is the duty of the state government to remain vigilant and ensure that public funds are wisely invested in sustainable, reliable and cost-effective solutions that benefit Sarawak in the long term.
