There are 2,017,901 motorized vehicles in Tainan City up to the end of May 2011, includs 1,431,709 motorcycles. Despite the convenience that the motorized vehicles bring to human life and the rapid development of civilization, the sheer number of them creates many negative impacts. The massive amount of exhaust coming out the tail pipes not only affects adversely human health, but also accelerates global warming, not to mention the impacts to every one living on this planet.
Motorcycles are a transportation means that generate more pollution as opposed to cars, and it is difficult to install pollution control device on them. In general, motorcycle owners lack of the idea of regular maintenance. They pay attention only to performance instead of exhaust emission. Given the aging of these motorcycles, the deterioration of air quality is inevitable. Therefore, as soon as the number increases, the emitted pollutants, such as CO and HC, will weaken our health and devastate the good environment. The inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO) causes the blood cells to lose the capability to carry oxygen, leading to CO poisoning. Hydrocarbons (HC) may result in higher rate of cancers. Thus, to establish a feasible control plan and put it to implementation in order to control the environmental pollution caused by motorized vehicle is something that is urge in the scope of air pollution control and management.
The Environmental Protection Administration has enforced the control on mobile pollution sources in order to improve the air quality of the motorized vehicles. In addition to the new vehicle type tests and random inspection on new vehicles as legally required, the regular motorcycle exhaust inspection system was launched in full scale. Apart from the active control efforts of central competent authority, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Tainan City Government puts the air pollution control fees to good use by employing external consultants for the implementation of the “Mobile pollution source auditing and control project” as the embodiment of regular motorcycle exhaust inspections and maintenance system. The intention is to infuse the idea and habit of regular inspection into people’s everyday life and in turn to improve the air quality of motorized vehicles in the jurisdiction.
This project was entrusted before the merging of Tainan City and County, and, as a result, is carried out on all the 31 new districts of Tainan City that were formerly 31 townships of Tainan County.
1. Project duration
The project started on Oct 20 2010 and ended on Jun 30 2011, totaling 8.3 months.
2. Progress of works
The following chart shows the progress of works executed for the project up to June 2011. All the works were completed as shown in the table.
3. Control achievement and performance
The auditing goals developed for the project, such as license plate identifying, inspection tours and roadside inspection, were achieved during the implementation of project. The number of follow-up notice for inspection and for failure to report to inspection met the requirements. The required percentages of reporting to inspections were reached.
For inspection station management, the unified contents of inspection station signboard and the establishment of imaging signboard were completed, and the assessment methods and management rules were unified for 2011.
For propaganda, a propaganda and parade event was held on Apr 16 2011 for the subsidy of electric motorcycles. The propaganda for the battery charging and exchange stations for electric vehicles was completed on May 9 2011 as part of the electric vehicle use environment
419,728 inspection notices were issued, and the number required for issuing follow-up inspection notice and propaganda materials was reached by the end of project.
The percentage of reporting for inspection started at 71.3% within the project implementation area at the beginning of project, and by the end of project, the percentage reached 91.58%, indicating not only an increased but also the best performance in several years.
4. Suggestions for future implementation
The following suggestions are provided for the future project implementation:
1. To increase the punishment on failures to report to and to pass the regular inspections;
2. Simplification of individual work items of the project and sufficient staffing;
3. The establishment and distribution of project workload should be more reasonable;
4. The definition of project goals should be more specific;
5. Improvement of regular inspection station management;
6. Control of bluish white exhausts
7. Propaganda of 2-stroke engine retirement; and
8. Suggestion for control in areas.
