In response to the global climate and environmental changes, countries around the world have poured enormous resources into developing low carbon, energy-saving, intelligent transportation tools. The Taiwanese Government has actively participated in the work by promoting electric buses to construct a low carbon public transportation system in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall efficiency of energy usage.
To create a thriving domestic electric bus industry and improve on its quality and safety, our government has set forth regulations that electric buses which had applied for government subsidies are required to pass 6 performance verification tests, including electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, climbing/hill-holing performance, high-speed cruise performance, cruising endurance performance, and residual capacity alerts.
Under the assistance of IDB(Industry Development Bureau) at Taiwan’s MOEA(Ministry of Economic Affairs), there are now 4 brands with 6 models of electric buses having passed the 6 performance tests, including RAC Electric Vehicle, Tangeng Advance Vehicle, Sin Sheng, and Pihsiang Machinery. This provides bus carrier companies with more choices. In addition, IDB has also actively sought to enhance the availability of electric buses and localized maintenance system to provide better services. Now, the performance of electric buses is very close to the diesel buses; in other words, their performance can meet the demand of most bus carrier companies. The result shows the effect of setting national standards and assistance from Taiwanese government; in the meantime, it is beneficial for the development of electric bus industry.
MOEA will follow the policy instructions from the Executive Yuan to promote having 10,000 electric buses on the road in the next 10 years. It will keep pushing the development of domestic electric vehicle industry and relevant technology, and assist domestic manufacturers to enhance the local content rate (including car batteries, motor, charging stations, automotive electronics, and power management systems, etc.), to strengthen industrial competitiveness, implementing the goals of green industries as well as a low-carbon Taiwan.