Malaysia will be holding its second autonomous electric bus trial in Putrajaya as soon as this year, according to The Star. The technology, which transport minister Anthony Loke said will have the potential to improve the country’s worsening traffic situation, is a result of a collaboration between autonomous vehicle solutions provider eMooVit Technology, 5G network provider Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and Ericsson.
The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and has since held several proof-of-concept trials for the technologies used in the buses. These include 5G public WiFi, real-time remote vehicle and telemetry data monitoring, in-vehicle CCTV and a journey log collection without passengers. The small buses (you might even call them bas mini), have covered over 1,000 km in these trials, said eMooVit CEO Hairi Zamzuri.
A demonstration was held in Cyberjaya yesterday next to the JPJePlate event, attended by Loke and digital minister Gobind Singh. The latter said the success of these trials showcased how Malaysia’s digital transformation could improve the delivery of public services.
Loke added that the government is considering amending laws to support the development of autonomous vehicles, referencing examples from other countries. “We need to take steps to see the future because maybe now it is not yet mainstream. But maybe in 10, 20 years, most of our public transportation systems will no longer use humans as drivers. They can be autonomous. Now, most of them still need drivers,” he said.
eMooVit’s autonomous vehicle technology was previously used in a trial conducted by Rapid Bus in October 2022, held on the Sunway BRT line after service hours. This, by the way, is separate from the autonomous rapid transit (ART) trials also being held this year, which use articulated trackless trams.
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As long as government spending is kept minimal … it should be alright. I am a doubter of autonomous road vehicle. There is just too many variables involved for an autonomous road vehicle to have performance parity with a human driven given today’s technology.
the design of the bus looks like E.T on wheels.
Good move,
Malaysia maju!
more unemployment coming… we are cheap labour country, why spend on these high cost high maintenance toys?
This autonomous bus still need a driver on standby on trouble shooting if there is emergency, should he play phone or picnic on driver seat then? since it drives itself.
Implementing technologies but still need to employ someone perhaps just sitting there wait for finish, seems funny to me.
so these Autonomous EV Bus can create more job oppurtunities, and quality service.
the driver can help OKU to move in and out of the Bus.
WE DON’T NEED AUTONOMOUS BS. WE NEED A ROBUST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!!! WHY CAN’T THESE MF UNDERSTAND?!!!!
why can’t you understand that public transport vehicles also requires drivers?
DK says-
This is what’s called “kong lan wa”. Cakap serupa tak cakap. Might as well say we’re studying our own space program, to be ready in 100 years time.
Awtar Singh is right. Dr Wee is 1000 times smarter than you.
Well, changes are coming especially we are among the countries that agree with UN2030 agenda. This will affect many sectors including transportation, to achieve zero carbon emission.