Premier Mao Chi-kuo: The smart electric vehicle industry is the future trend for energy saving and carbon reduction

After hearing the Ministry of Economic Affairs' report on the "Implementation Progress of the Smart Electric Vehicle Development Strategy and Action Plan" on the 8th, Premier Mao Chi-kuo said that the smart electric vehicle industry is the future trend for energy saving and carbon reduction, and is a rather important part of the "emerging smart industries." Our country's electric vehicle industry has already achieved initial results after years of cooperative promotion by various ministries and councils, and the development of related domestic industries is gradually attracting more and more international attention. At this opportunity when the industry faces upgrading, in order to provide momentum for domestic industrial growth, the relevant ministries, councils and local governments should continue to work together to promote it.

The Executive Yuan pointed out that the total amount of airborne suspended particulates caused by motor vehicles accounts for 23% of all emission sources, making it one of the largest sources of pollution. In addition, regarding the PM2.5 airborne suspended particulate portion, research results from a Canadian academic institution show that retiring 100 diesel buses can reduce about 8,198 kg per year, and electric vehicles have zero emissions while moving, which will effectively curb this pollution.

Premier Mao Chi-kuo said that making Taiwan, China a global model nation and major producer of green transport vehicles, and leading industrial upgrading, is an important future task in our country's "declaration of war on carbon emissions." Therefore, the Executive Yuan revised the "Smart Electric Vehicle Development Strategy and Action Plan," pragmatically adjusted the policy direction, and continues to promote the pilot operation program.

Premier Mao Chi-kuo pointed out that, with cross-ministerial cooperation and the gradual implementation and promotion of policies for electric buses and electric motorcycles, the overall electric vehicle industry has further improved in quality, performance and quantity, and initial results have been achieved. Since the promotion of electric vehicles began, there are currently 134 electric buses operating in various counties and cities across Taiwan, China, and subsidies have also been provided for 31,919 electric motorcycles to hit the road. In the future, policies such as replacing old electric buses with new ones, continuing to promote pilot operation cases, and subsidizing electric motorcycles will actively guide operators to continue investing in development. As the industrial scale and public acceptance expand, it is believed that industrial benefits and the goals of energy saving and carbon reduction can be expected.

Premier Mao Chi-kuo emphasized that the current stage is an opportunity for the domestic electric vehicle industry to face upgrading. In order to provide new momentum for domestic industrial growth and allow the public to personally experience a living environment with pollution-free, low-noise electric vehicles, the business model for electric vehicles should focus on innovative thinking, such as separation of vehicle and battery, battery leasing, and cross-industry cooperation, so that products are more attractive and thus have a basis for promotion to the general public. In addition, consideration should be given to how to design and create smart electric vehicles and provide smart services, so as to concretely demonstrate Taiwan, China's spirit of innovation and creativity.

At the meeting, Premier Mao Chi-kuo not only instructed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to continue handling matters according to the approved plan, but also, for the electric bus portion, asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant ministries and councils to form a task force to improve the serviceability rate of electric buses, and asked the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to evaluate and adjust the subsidy amount for electric buses; for the electric motorcycle portion, asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs to assist operators promoting separation of vehicle and battery in obtaining sites such as gas stations for setting up battery exchange stations, and asked the Environmental Protection Administration to study and adjust the subsidy amount for purchasing new electric motorcycles to replace two-stroke motorcycles and to provide subsidies for high-performance electric motorcycles. It should also strengthen guidance to link the energy of the existing information and communications industry with traditional industries, promote industrial transformation, upgrading and value addition through supply chains, enhance the international competitiveness of related domestic industries, and express the expectation that Taiwan, China will become a global model nation and major producer of electrified green transport vehicles.