Summary of Implementation Results
This project's implementation period extended from August 18,
2016 to August 17, 2017. During this period, we performed subsidy
tasks for the retirement and scrapping of two-stroke motorcycles,
retirement of old motorcycles and the purchase of electric
motorcycles, retirement of old motorcycles and the purchase of
electric (or electrically-assisted) bicycles, review of reported
highly-polluting motorcycles and call in for inspection, and
motorcycle emission testing station management; the following is an
overview of key tasks performed during this project:
A. Subsidy tasks
This fiscal year, assistance was provided to the Environmental
Protection Department in implementing measures to encourage the
scrapping of two-stroke engine motorcycles and the provision of
subsidies for replacing two-stroke motorcycles with electric scooters.
In order to enhance the level of convenience provided for citizens
and reduce the time needed to complete the subsidy application
process, improvements were made with respect to the factors that
frequently lead to applications being rejected; for example, the
content of the application form was revised, and guidance was
provided to the firms responsible for recycling scrapped two-stroke
motorcycles. As a result, the number of rejected applications fell by
50% compared to the previous fiscal year. In addition, assistance was
provided with respect to the provision of subsidies for replacement of
two-stroke motorcycles, through collaboration with the Motor
Vehicles Office, recycling firms and the periodic inspection stations;
guidance was provided to owners of two-stroke motorcycles, and
spot-checks were performed in high-air-pollution hotspots, etc., with
the aim of promoting the replacement of highly-polluting vehicles.
The total number of two-stroke motorcycles brought in for scrapping
over the course of the year was 52,646. The work results achieved
are outlined below:
1. Subsidy tasks for the retirement and scrapping of two-stroke
motorcycles:
During 2016, a total of 26,526 subsidy applications were
received for the retirement of two-stroke motorcycles, of which
22,349 cases were approved to receive the subsidy following
review. A subsidy of NT$1,500 was provided for each
motorcycle. In 2017, a total of 16,694 subsidy applications had
been received for the retirement of two-stroke motorcycles as of
August 17, of which 15,052 cases were approved following
review. We are currently continuing to accept applications from
the public.
2. Electric motorcycle subsidy tasks:
During 2016, a total of 422 electric motorcycle subsidy
applications were received, of which 381 cases were approved
to receive the subsidy following review. In 2017, a total of 295
applications had been approved as of August 17, and we are
currently continuing to accept applications from the public.
3. Electric (or electrically-assisted) bicycle subsidy tasks
During 2016, we received a total of 2,634 subsidy
applications for purchase of new electric (or
electrically-assisted) bicycles, payment of all subsidies has been
completed. In 2017, 565 subsidy applications had been received
as of August 17, and we are currently still continuing to
accept applications from the public.
4. Improvement of scrapping and subsidy operations
With respect to the issues that had been identified in
scrapping and subsidy operations in the previous fiscal year,
improvement measures were stepped up with aim of providing a
higher level of convenience for the general public. In particular,
the problem of applicants failing to provide all necessary
supplementary documents within the specified time limit was
addressed by making revisions to the application form and
providing guidance to recycling firms. As a result, the number
of cases in which applicants failed to provide all of the required
documentation within the time limit was reduced from 1,817 in
FY2016 to 534 in FY2017, and the total number of applications
rejected fell by 50% in FY2017.
5. Scrapping of two-stroke motorcycles
In FY2016, a total of 52,646 two-stroke motorcycles were
brought in for scrapping, reducing the total number of
two-stroke motorcycles on the roads by 24.7%. Assistance was
provided with respect to the provision of subsidies for
replacement of two-stroke motorcycles, through collaboration
with the Motor Vehicles Office, recycling firms and the periodic
inspection stations; guidance was provided to owners of
two-stroke motorcycles, and spot-checks were performed in
high-air-pollution hotspots, etc., with the aim of promoting the
replacement of highly-polluting vehicles.
B. Highly-polluting motorcycles report tasks
During 2016, we sent out 6,161 official inspection call-in
notices via double-registered mail in highly-polluting
motorcycle report cases that had passed follow-up review. Our
statistics indicate that 5,083 motorcycles returned for inspection,
for a cumulative inspection rate of 82.5%. Another 161
motorcycles were reported as scrapped after their owners had
received the official inspection call-in notices via
double-registered mail, and the rate of vehicles reported as
scrapped after notification was 2.6%. The combined rate of
motorcycles passing inspection or being reported as scrapped
was 85.1%, and a total of 455(7.4%) disciplinary certificates
were delivered in cases when motorcycles were not brought in
for exhaust inspection within the prescribed periods. These
figures indicate that the sending of official inspection call -in
notices via double-registered mail has yielded very good results.
C. Periodic Inspection Station Management Operations
To improve the quality of service provided by periodic
inspection stations and increase their customer base, thereby boosting
the percentage of motorcycles that are brought in for inspection at
the stations, various measures were implemented including on-site
auditing, education and training, and the provision of guidance to
ensure that individual stations adopted the latest concepts and
methods. In addition, revisions were made to relevant laws and
regulations in order to enhance the public’s confidence in periodic
inspection stations, thereby helping to increase the percentage of
customers who are willing to return to an inspection station on
subsequent occasions. Besides increasing the overall percentage of
motorcycles that are brought in for periodic inspection, these
measures have also helped to reduce the amount of air pollution
caused by motorcycles. The work results achieved are outlined
below:
1.Quality Auditing
During the plan implementation period, periodic inspection
station auditing was performed on 909 occasions. The most
common quality issue discovered was “excessively dirty filter
consumables” (33.7% of issues), followed by “unclear floor
markings” (19.6%) and “failure to issue re-inspection notices”
(13.0%). With respect to those periodic inspection stations
where failings were identified during the audit, guidance has
been provided to help remedy the situation, along with relevant
education and training.
2. Provision of Guidance Regarding Manual Calibration
During the plan implementation period, auditing was
performed on 120 occasions. The most common issue
discovered was “instruments affected by leakage” (38.9% of
issues), followed by “insufficient familiarity with manual
calibration techniques” (33.3%). With respect to those periodic
inspection stations where failings were identified during the
audit, guidance has been provided to help remedy the situation,
along with relevant education and training; the provision of gas
comparison guidance was successful in reducing the
non-conforming rate from 5.1% to 2.58%.
3. Calibration Auditing
In FY2016 calibration auditing was performed with respect
to periodic inspection stations that were using superannuated
emissions analysis instruments. Auditing was performed on 106
occasions; 100 stations passed the audit, and 6 failed
(representing a non-conforming rate of 5.7%). The main reasons
for failing to pass flow and leakage inspection were wear on the
instrument’s internal tubing, and deterioration of the pump
membrane.
4.Auditing of Inspection of Actual Vehicles
In accordance with the New Taipei City regulations
governing how frequently inspection of actual vehicle
inspection must be performed, auditing of the inspection of
actual motorcycles at periodic inspection stations was
performed on 36 occasions. Of the 36 stations audited, 7
(representing 19% of all stations audited) were found to engage
in unauthorized adjustment of the air-fuel mixture, and 2
stations had inspection performed by non-qualified personnel.
5. Training and evaluation
We have conducted four training sessions for motorcycle
emission testing station personnel, and 1,140 personnel received
training. The content of this training included "Key instructions
concerning motorcycle emission testing station quality audit
management" and "Motorcycle emission testing station
management regulations and coordination matters." By provided
the most up-to-date information, this training boosted service
quality at motorcycle emission testing stations. Furthermore, we
conducted a superior motorcycle emission testing station
evaluation in February 2017, and held an awards ceremony on
March 26 of the same year.
6. An increase in the percentage of motorcycles brought in for
periodic inspection, and improved inspection station service
quality
In order to improve the quality of service provided by
periodic inspection stations and increase their customer base,
thereby boosting the percentage of motorcycles that are brought
in for inspection at the stations, the first priority was to raise
periodic inspection station service quality. Through the
utilization of a “number of stars” type rating system and other
mechanisms, as well as the provision of guidance and hands-on
support to encourage inspection station staff to undertake
customer service training courses, so as to enable inspection
station staff to learn and improve, the overall level of
confidence that the general public have in periodic inspection
stations was enhanced, which in turn led to an increase in the
number of motorcycle owners willing to return to an inspection
station on subsequent occasions; this, together with
word-of-mouth recommendation from one citizen to another and
the establishment of additional inspection stations, has led to an
increase in the percentage of motorcycles that are brought in for
periodic inspection. Currently, a total of 120 periodic inspection
stations have signed up for participation in the program whereby
motorcycle owners are notified by text message when their
vehicles are due for inspection, and an additional 160 stations
are being established. As a result of these measures, the number
of motorcycles brought in for inspection rose by 150,000
vehicles between FY2014 and FY2016, with the percentage of
motorcycles brought in for inspection rising by 11.54
percentage points, from 56.56% to 68.10% (the highest figure
ever recorded).
D. Replacement and Periodic Inspection Guidance Operations
Efforts were made to encourage members of the public to
replace decrepit, highly-polluting motorcycles with
low-pollution models. A particular effort was made to step up
replacement and periodic inspection awareness-raising guidance
work in the TuCheng, LuZhou, YongHe and ShuLin districts of
New Taipei City, which are the districts with the largest number
of complaints about motorcycles with highly visible exhaust
emissions, and with the largest number of registered two-stroke
motorcycles. Guidance work was undertaken at 30 schools and
colleges, with guidance being provided to a total of 94,000
people.
