INSIGHT ife is becoming easier and greener for citizens of southern Taiwan’s 台 灣 評 論 Chiayi City. Last year, all of its buses received electric vehicle Lupgrades, and the total length of routes is set to increase from 36 kilometers in 2019 to 88 km by the end of 2021. In addition, the time- table is more convenient, with ser- vices coming at intervals of 15 to 30 minutes, compared with one to two hours previously. Chang Chiung-hsi ( ), chief On the Green of the Transportation Administration Section under the local government’s Track Transportation Department, said city buses were once rarely seen in Chiayi. “But now they’re part and Taiwan is tackling climate parcel of daily life and proving popu- change via strategies ranging lar with residents,” she added, citing from improving public rising ridership from 80,000 in 2017 to 260,000 last year. transport systems to sparking Chiayi is one of Taiwan’s model the use of electric vehicles. municipal citizens when it comes to developing green transportation. Lin BY OSCAR CHUNG Chi-kuo ( ), director general of the Institute of Transportation PHOTOS BY CHIN HUNG-HAO at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), said optimizing existing systems and promoting electric vehicles are twin strategies for cutting carbon emis- sions. “It’s essential to have viable public transportation so as to per- suade the people to reduce reliance on cars and motorbikes.” Main Oender Such vehicles, according to Lin, are a major source of air pollution and greenhouse gases. A report released by the MOTC in 2018 revealed that road transportation accounts for 95.5 percent of emissions produced by the sector overall. is compares with 2.2 percent for rail, 1.5 percent for watercourses and 0.8 percent for aviation. A further breakdown 12 二彩 12-17.indd 12 2021/3/19 下午10:08 indicates that 63.8 percent of road running along the heavily populated part in championing the green trans- emissions are from small passenger west of the country from Taipei City portation cause. To woo passengers cars and motorbikes. In total, the in the north to Kaohsiung City in traveling short distances via motor- transportation sector is responsible the south. Upgrading the country’s ways, the MOTC-overseen agency for 12.7 percent of emissions pro- metros and standard rail services is constructing additional stations on duced in Taiwan. are also high on the agenda. Four of busier routes, as well as scheduling Lin believes the numbers Taiwan’s six special municipalities more services to meet heightened indicate an underlying need for have at least one mass rapid tran- demand. Since the early 2000s, improvement, especially in the area sit line in operation, and these are nearly 40 such stations have been of rail transportation. “Taiwan’s complemented by light-rail systems launched, with more in the pipeline. investment in transportation infra- in Kaohsiung and New Taipei City. TRA is also encouraging pas - structure tends to center on high- sengers to think green by making ways. But over the past decade, Green Express Taiwan’s beloved pastime cycling there’s been a rethink of sorts.” Taiwan Railways Administration part of the daily commute. In 2009, One high-profile example is the (TRA), which operates the country’s the agency started oering dedicated expansion of Taiwan High Speed 130-year-old network, is playing its spaces for bikes. The total number Rail (THSR). Since 2017, the gov- ernment has made it a top priority to extend the 350-km THSR line Illustration by Lin Hsin-chieh 13 二彩 12-17.indd 13 2021/3/19 下午10:08 01 02 03 04 01. The scenic line running along the East Rift Valley in eastern Taiwan is set to be cleaner and greener once double-tracking is completed by Taiwan Railways Administration in 2030. 02. TRA’s Lilin Station in central Taiwan is one of many new stops recently constructed around the country. 03. Passengers enjoy the enhanced comfort of a well-lit TRA train boasting environmentally friendly air conditioning. 04. More space is available on TRA trains for bicycles to encourage green commuting. 05. An electric bus at a terminal station in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District is plugged into the government’s green mantra. 06. Road transport accounts for the vast majority of greenhouse gases produced by the transportation sector, with small passenger cars and motorbikes the main culprits. 01. Courtesy of Lin Chia-yen 02 & 04. Courtesy of Taiwan Railways Administration 05 14 Taiwan Review March / April 二彩 12-17.indd 14 2021/3/19 下午10:08 of spots on TRA trains has steadily grown to 694 and is projected to reach 1,318 by 2023. TRA chalked up a record rider- ship of 236 million in 2019. The agency forecasts even healthier figures going forward on the back of an NT$99.7 billion (US$3.56 billion), four-year investment in replacing half of its 2,595 car - riages by 2024. Feng Hui-sheng ( 06 ), deputy director-general of the TRA, said this unprecedented renewal of rolling stock is a boon per EV. Currently, 560 of Taiwan’s examples include Taoyuan City- for green transportation. “The new 11,000 city buses are electric, with based China Motor Corp. devel- cars are energy efficient and will the ambitious goal of a complete oping electric vans for use as mail further enhance the credentials of £eet replacement set for 2030. delivery vehicles starting in 2018, the agency as an environmentally The government’s green largesse as well as state-backed Industrial conscious service provider.” is largely responsible for the surg- Technology Research Institute As the majority of TRA lines ing popularity of electric scooters (ITRI) cooperating with homegrown are double track, the agency is burn- (e-scooters) in Taiwan, as is its com- outts in manufacturing buses using ing the midnight oil in ensuring all mitment to supporting the devel- indigenously produced components remaining single-track sections are opment of an increasingly friendly under the auspices of the ITRI upgraded posthaste. Special attention charging environment. More than Electric Vehicle Promotion Office is focused on the TRA lines wind- 3 percent of scooters zipping about established last year. ing along the East Rift Valley in the Taiwan’s roads are powered by elec- The ITRI unit was one of the eastern Taiwan counties of Hualien tricity, according to the MOTC. main movers and shakers behind and Taitung. E-scooters are not the only EVs the launch of the Taiwan Electric Often described as the country’s targeted for promotion. e purchase Vehicle Power Charging Technology most scenic rail journey, the lines and use of small cars is encour- Promotion Alliance in September offer unparalleled views of rugged aged via various tax incentives. One 2020. Tasked with tackling one coastal mountain ranges, lush veg- example is the 30 percent commod- of the main roadblocks to the etation and rural hamlets. Tickets for ity tax, which is waived for purchases uptake of EVs, the alliance com- the 160-km journey must be booked under NT$1.4 million (US$50,000), prises government agencies such weeks in advance, forcing locals to with any sum in excess taxable at 15 as the MOTC and the Cabinet- take buses, cars or scooters to get percent. The initiative will end in level Environmental Protection from A to B. Double-tracking the December, but the plans are under Administration, as well as industry electried lines by 2030 will expand consideration for an extension. This associations, major auto companies access, reduce road transportation is expected to take the number of and charging station operators. and add 17,000 rides annually. small cars running on electricity in With various EV manufactur- Taiwan beyond the current 10,000 ers operating standalone charging Electric Dreams out of a total 7 million vehicles—a facilities for respective customers, Going electric is the trend for motor signicant improvement from 1,213 the ITRI-led alliance faces a stiff vehicles, too. The sector is power- in 2018. challenge in coordinating member ing ahead courtesy of MOTC sub- efforts to construct standardized sidies for various electric vehicle Complete Commitment rapid-charging stations around (EV) purchases, in particular buses. Taiwan’s public and private sectors Taiwan. Larry Chang ( ), busi- Operators qualify for payments of are on the same page when it comes ness director of the ITRI unit, sees up to NT$10 million (US$357,000) to green transportation. Recent the move as crucial in boosting the 15 二彩 12-17.indd 15 2021/3/19 下午10:08 use of small car EVs. “Amid growing global concern over climate change, charging stations will replace gas sta- tions at a rapid pace,” he said, adding that the latter could be a thing of the past in a few decades. Another way of fast-tracking green transportation is the integra- tion of smart technology. Director General Lin said signicant amounts of energy can be saved, even when 01 systems achieve a basic level of pro- ficiency. He singled out for praise Taiwan’s first smart bus stops in Taipei. Constantly displaying wait- ing times between services, the innovative system has been upgraded to enable residents to track buses in real time using an app designed for mobile devices. 02 03 16 Taiwan Review March / April 二彩 12-17.indd 16 2021/3/19 下午10:08 04 Silky Smooth Another part of the government’s green transportation promotion efforts is streamlined payment systems such as EasyCard. First employed on Taipei’s metro system and city buses in 2002, and later for the TRA network, the smart card is widely seen as playing a key role in convincing the public to swap con- gested roads and pollution for stress- free travel with handsome eco- friendly paydays.