The Taoyuan City Government recently launched a new alliance to promote low-carbon transportation. This partnership brings together electric vehicle manufacturers and transport operators. Its goal is to position Taoyuan as a national leader in green development.
On Monday, the city held a press event at the fuel vehicle emissions testing station in Guishan District. During the event, officials showcased electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Moreover, Deputy Mayor Su Jun-bin emphasized the importance of low-carbon transportation. He pointed out that Taoyuan’s proximity to Taiwan’s main international airport and Taipei Port makes emission reduction critical.
To support this goal, the city plans to provide subsidies for electric vehicle purchases. In addition, the government will help alliance members overcome regulatory and technical challenges. Currently, transportation accounts for about 15% of Taoyuan’s total carbon emissions. Therefore, the city is focused on cutting these emissions through various measures.
For instance, bus operators with fleets larger than 50 vehicles must conduct greenhouse gas inventories. This requirement will guide their efforts to phase out older, polluting buses. In fact, Taoyuan Bus Co., a member of the alliance, replaced 85 fuel-powered buses during the first half of this year. Furthermore, the company plans to add 90 more electric buses next year. As a result, they aim to have 35% of their fleet electric.
Deputy Mayor Su expects electric buses to make up 19% of the city’s fleet by the end of this year. By 2025, this figure should reach 35%. Besides buses, the Environmental Protection Department will also work on improving electric garbage trucks. Specifically, it will enhance their capacity, range, and charging efficiency.
Additionally, the city announced plans to help residents phase out nearly 330 fuel-powered trucks by 2030. This action is expected to reduce emissions by about 38,000 tonnes annually. At the national level, the transportation ministry reported that 25% of city buses nationwide were electric last year.
Moreover, the Cabinet allocated NT$64.3 billion (US$2.05 billion) to help operators phase out old buses and buy electric ones. The government targets full electrification of the city bus fleet by 2030. As of November, Taiwan had installed 10,086 public electric vehicle charging connectors.
In conclusion, Taoyuan’s low-carbon transportation alliance represents an important step toward sustainable urban transit. With ongoing support and collaboration, the city hopes to become a model for green development across Taiwan.
