KUCHING: Even before Malaysia’s flying car has lifted off, a news report yesterday said an automobile project has been launched in Peninsular Malaysia to develop an electric car that could be powered by water.
Malay-daily Berita Harian reported that the prototype of the electric car, which is integrated with hydrogen fuel cells that uses water as an alternative power source, could be produced by year’s end.
The project under the Hydrogen Integrated Electric Race Car Programme (HyPER) is being developed by NanoMalaysia Bhd, Handal Energy Solutions Sdn Bhd, Pulsar UAV Sdn Bhd (Pulsar), MNA Energy Sdn Bhd (MNA Energy) and Wheelspin Motorsports, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
NanoMalaysia was incorporated in 2011 as a company limited by guarantee under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry for the commercialisation of nanotechnology.
Its chief operating officer Mohamad Hafiz Zolkipli told Berita Harian in Kuala Lumpur that under the 11th Malaysia Plan, they had invested RM500,000 in the programme.
“We expect the car to be ready by year’s end. It is expected to enter the next testing phase followed by its marketing to gain investors by early next year.
“Potentially, this car can be developed within five years as we noticed that other countries have started this initiative. Therefore, there is no reason for Malaysia to be left out,” he said in an interview.
Mohamad Hafiz explained that the car was essentially electric-powered as the main power source was stored in ultra-capacitors using nano graphite technology and lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries.
As such, he said consumers in the city had easy access to the power supply to charge the car in just a few minutes, while the fuel cell was used to generate additional power or more torque during acceleration.
“In situations where the car cannot be charged or there is no access to electricity, consumers can turn to hydrogen for its main power source as it is fueled by water.
“Usually other fuel cells require the supply of hydrogen made available, but HyPER is developed through its own ability to generate hydrogen using a mixture of water and other chemical catalysts,” he said.
Meanwhile, the prototype of the much anticipated Malaysian flying car is expected to be launched by the end of the year, Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof told the recent Parliament sitting.
He said the project was led by the private sector and spons
