Malaysia's Commitment to Hydrogen: Toyota Mirai Pilot Program and Government Initiatives
Key Ideas
  • Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) plans to trial three Toyota Mirai units with mobile hydrogen fuelling stations in early 2025, aiming to achieve equal sales of hydrogen, petrol, and electric vehicles by 2050.
  • The initiative is part of a larger vision to position Malaysia as a leader in clean energy, utilizing hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source that can replace traditional fossil fuels and play a key role in a clean energy portfolio.
  • The country is developing a Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR) to align with the global hydrogen ecosystem, projected to be worth US$189.19 billion by 2050, and is working towards phasing out petrol subsidies and shifting towards green hydrogen production.
  • Although hydrogen cars are not expected to be popular in Malaysia for at least a decade due to production limitations and fuel costs, targeted subsidies, tax exemptions, and support similar to that given to electric vehicles are planned to promote wider adoption and reduce cost gaps.
The Malaysian government, particularly the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI), is ramping up efforts to introduce hydrogen-powered vehicles in the country. The ministry plans to conduct a pilot program featuring three Toyota Mirai units along with mobile hydrogen fuelling stations on the western side of the country in the first quarter of 2025. This initiative is part of Malaysia's long-term goal to achieve equal sales of hydrogen, petrol, and electric vehicles by 2050. Minister Chang Lin Kang emphasized the importance of establishing Malaysia as a leader in clean energy within the region, positioning hydrogen as a clean and low-carbon energy source that can replace traditional fossil fuels. The pilot program and the larger vision are in line with Malaysia's development of a Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR), aiming to capitalize on the projected global hydrogen ecosystem worth US$189.19 billion by 2050. The country also aims to phase out petrol subsidies and transition towards green hydrogen production to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and combat climate change. Despite the current challenges such as high hydrogen fuel costs and limited availability of hydrogen cars like the Toyota Mirai, Malaysia is implementing strategies to encourage the adoption of hydrogen vehicles. These strategies include targeted subsidies, tax exemptions, and support similar to that provided for electric vehicles. Malaysia is also focusing on transitioning from grey hydrogen (produced from fossil fuels) to blue hydrogen (with carbon capture technology) and eventually to green hydrogen made from renewable energy sources. The government's push towards hydrogen as an alternative energy source is not only limited to mobility but also encompasses the entire hydrogen value chain, including production, transportation, storage, and end-use in various industries. While Malaysia acknowledges that hydrogen cars may not gain popularity in the near future, the country's initiatives and support mechanisms aim to pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation sector.
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