KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's first electric bus (eBusKK) pilot project took off today, covering the state capital's downtown areas between Sepanggar and Menara Kinabalu.
The six-month pilot project, costing RM1.2 million, will enable city folk to enjoy clean and comfortable public transportation for free.
The electric bus is equipped with the latest technology including an automated bus stop announcement system, as well as a boarding ramp to provide easy access for the disabled and the elderly.
It also comes with closed-circuit television cameras for the safety of passengers, global positioning system (GPS) and a driver monitoring system.
The eBusKK service is a collaborative effort between Sabah government's investment arm, Qhazanah Sabah Bhd (QSB), and Gemilang Coachwork Sdn Bhd, one of Asia's leading electric bus and aluminium bus body builders.
QSB Group chief executive officer Ahmad Rizal Dahli said feasibility studies will be conducted during this pilot run.
The outcome, he said, would pave the way for a detailed and overall planning of future eBus services, in the hope of providing a permanent eBusKK service by 2023.
"We will use this trial run to assess consumer behaviour as well collect input from the public over the service's feasibility and sustainability.
"This data will be used as part of our evaluation on how we are going to run it permanently, hopefully by next year," he told reporters after the launching ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre today.
Present was Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, who was on hand to flag off the first eBusKK.
Others in attendance included QSB director Datuk Dr Johnson Tee, Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board director Norsiah Patah and KK City Hall Traffic Department director Saiman Anggak.
Rizal said only one bus would be used during the pilot run. The service will run four days a week from Monday to Thursday between 8am and 5pm.
He said the pilot run will eventually be expanded beyond the Sepanggar-Menara Kinabalu route, with the public advised to check the company's social media accounts for the latest updates.
"This bus is costly. Realistically, we are looking at operating anywhere from five to 20 buses in Kota Kinabalu for a start next year, depending on the success of the pilot project.
"We will use this trial period to determine the bus fares because we don't want to overcharge or undercharge," he said.
Rizal said continuous engagements will be carried out with the authorities, including Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
"This is just the beginning. This is one part of the integrated system for the whole Kota Kinabalu before we go further throughout Sabah," he said.
QSB had, since October, been working to ensure that technical preparations and safety measures are in place in the lead up to the pilot run.
These include mechanical-theory studies, reliability of product, vendor support, infrastructure, and system efficiency to support existing public transportation services.
The eBus study would also complement the state capital's future planning, said Rizal.
Meanwhile, in a press statement, QSB executive director Mohd Shukor Abdul Mumin said eBusKK was QSB's response to being tasked with helping address the city's traffic congestion by incorporating an environmentally-sustainable public transport service.
"Through the eBusKK service, we are supporting the government's drive to improve the city's public transportation system while introducing the use of emission-free vehicles.
"This is also an effort to build awareness among the relevant stakeholders on the importance of having an integrated and robust transportation system," he said.
Shukor said he hoped other interest groups would join in efforts to further improve the public transportation with a focus on 'clean and green' resources.
He said the eBusKK service was among the initiatives in place to reduce carbon emissions in Kota Kinabalu by 2050.
"To achieve the target of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050, everyone needs to be involved. Our hope is that the electric bus services will eventually be expanded to other districts across Sabah," he added.