Today, the Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry launched the first-ever all-electric powered bus service in Malaysia.

The minister, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the city e-Bus service actually started in February 2019 on a trial basis with a single bus.

“The e-Bus service is to provide convenient and free transportation alternatives for our visitors and locals by connecting some of the important destinations in Kuching city. The trial run in 2019 was well received by visitors and locals, who commended the free, innovative, green energy bus services,” he said when speaking at the launching ceremony.

Due to the positive response of the trial run, the fleet of e-buses has been increased.

“However, a single bus was limited in its service and route coverage. Therefore, in order to have a free e-Bus service that is punctual, reliable and covering longer routes, my ministry proposed to acquire four more new e-Buses,” he added.

The e-buses can travel up to 300km on a single charge with a maximum speed of 70km/h. Each 10.5m e-bus has a maximum seating capacity of 52 passengers, with 26 seated passengers and 26 standing passengers.

They are equipped with free WIFI, CCTVs, automated bus stop announcement system, real time broadcast content control system, video passengers counter and is disable friendly. There’s also a foldable bicycle storage compartment and the batteries of each bus can last at least eight years before it needs to be replaced.

Each bus will cover 107 stops (inbound and outbound) until 4PM with a total of six journeys made per day, per bus.