Bus operators can receive up to NT$1.6 million (US$49,770) in subsidies over four years when they upgrade to electric vehicles (EVs), the Ministry of Environment said on Thursday.
The ministry said that about 12,170 buses would be replaced with electric-powered vehicles between next year and 2030 — when the nation expects all buses to have transitioned to electric models.
Departing from its previous practice of providing subsidies in a lump sum, the ministry said that the new subsidies would be granted based on the electric buses’ mileage or passenger numbers.
Photo: Tsai Yun-jung, Taipei Times
Both city bus companies and operators of intercity long-
distance buses can apply for the subsidies, the ministry added.
Bus operators would have an annual quota of NT$400,000, and they can alternate between the two systems — mileage or passenger numbers — to file for subsidies, Department of Atmospheric Environment Director Tsai Meng-yu (蔡孟裕) said.
Special subsidy rates would apply to cities and counties outside of the six special municipalities, as well as eastern Taiwan and the outlying islands, to encourage all bus operators to switch to electric vehicles, he said.
Bus operators that report an increase in passenger numbers after changing to electric vehicles would receive a special bonus, while those that did not see a boost in riders would receive an amount based on the flat subsidy rate, he said.
Once all the nation’s buses are electric powered, it would decrease carbon emissions by 307,000 tonnes per year and air pollutants by 4,327 tonnes annually, the ministry said.
In addition, bus companies would receive a cash reward of NT$30,000 for trading in diesel-powered vehicles for electric-powered ones, or they can sell their buses to the government for a more significant sum, starting at about NT$190,000, the ministry said.
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