Recently, the world's first hydrogen-powered smart tram independently developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Institute successfully launched in S China's Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province, and will be shipped from the port of Shanghai to Malaysia in the coming days. It is the first smart tram delivered by China to Southeast Asia.

According to an official of CRRC, the launch of CRRC smart tram in Malaysia will bring modern and green travel methods to the local city and will help China serve countries along the "Belt and Road".

The smart rail vehicle adopts hydrogen-power system for the first time, which is lower carbon, energy-saving and environmentally friendly. It will be used for urban transportation services in Kuching, capital of Sarawak in Malaysia, and will be tested for 3 months.

In addition, the tram uses a 70MPa hydrogen storage system and a high-power fuel cell system, with a driving range of up to 245 kilometers.

According to public information, in July 2022, CRRC Zhixing, a subsidiary of CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, won the bid for the smart tram project in Kuching, with a total of 3 rail lines and 69.9 kilometers, equipped with 38 smart trams. The delivery of the trams laid the foundation for the follow-up cooperation.

CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co., Ltd (CRRC Zhuzhou Institute) was established in 1959, formerly as Zhuzhou Electrical Locomotive Research Institute of Ministry of Railways, and currently is a subsidiary solely held by China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Co., Ltd.

CRRC ZELC 's business focuses on electric locomotives, urban rail vehicles, EMUs/DMUs, battery electric locomotives, maglev trains, new technology of public transport vehicles such as, energy storage trams, important parts, extension products of know-how, MRO and electromechanical general contracting service services, etc. At present, CRRC ZELC has total assets of 29.1 billion RMB Yuan and 21 subsidiaries at home and abroad.