The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said yesterday it would continue to encourage taxi drivers to install engines in their cars that run on both gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), but added that it would not raise subsidies for those who make the switch.
Taxi drivers who install engines that run on LPG — also called autogas — and gasoline receive NT$25,000 to help cover their costs.
The subsidies are managed by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA).
“Drivers can use the subsidy to pay for autogas each time they fill up” their tank, the statement said. “It can also be used as a coupon to cover the installation expenses.”
“The subsidy is taken from the EPA’s air pollution control fund and the ministry does not provide any additional subsidies,” the statement said.
The ministry said that it would nevertheless encourage taxi drivers to make the switch to dual-fuel engines.
The statement said a dual-fuel engine can “reduce monthly fuel expenditures by about NT$10,000, but also helps curb air pollution.”
The government has been encouraging the use of autogas for years as a relatively clean energy source as its combustion generates less pollution than gasoline.
However, autogas has not proven very popular among taxi drivers and other motorists in part because it is available at so few gas stations.
There are around 10,000 cars running on autogas across the country.
Twenty-two gas stations in Taiwan offer autogas.
Safety concerns have proven another obstacle to promoting autogas, as many car manufacturers do not guarantee the safety of a vehicle if it has been modified to run on LPG.
The increase in fuel prices may, however, increase the incentive for taxi drivers to make the switch to the eco-friendlier option.
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