Mobile pollution sources are a cause of air quality deterioration in metropolitan areas. One of the focal points of the authorities for environmental protection and transportation has been reinforcing control mechanisms for these sources, of which black smoke from diesel vehicles is the most publicly denounced. This project’s objectives are to control diesel emissions, with particular attention given to high-polluting vehicles rather than old diesel vehicles. Car owners can be given a proper approach to maintenance and inspection through obtaining, by inspection, a “diesel vehicle self-management mark,” a well as through project controls and educational promotion. The intent of such efforts is to upgrade and improve high-polluting vehicles and reduce their pollution emissions. The plan was implemented from October 24, 2017 to October 23, 2018, for a total of 12 months. The relevant details of implementation are as follows:
I. Testing at inspection stations
Testing software certified by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of the Executive Yuan was used at inspection stations to perform testing in accordance with the "Testing Methods and Procedures for Smoke Emissions from Diesel Motor Vehicles" and "Testing Methods and Procedures for Smoke Emission Opacity in Diesel Motor Vehicles" announced by the EPA. All testing tasks were computerized. A total of 6,891 diesel motor vehicles had been tested as of October 23, 2018. Primary reasons for inspection were visual smoke inspection (39.6%) and self-management (39.2%). A total of 56 vehicles failed inspection, representing a failure rate of 0.8%; a total of 342 vehicles were declined inspection due to insufficient horsepower, which accounted for a decline rate of 4.6%.
II. Inspection and testing
(I) Roadside testing
Vehicles subjected to roadside testing were determined through a preliminary selection based on accelerator testing and a visual check. All
phase 1-2 vehicles were tested when stopped; phase 3-4 vehicles were first screened by personnel certified for visual inspection who stood behind the vehicle as other testing personnel held down the accelerator to visually determine the density of smoke from the vehicle's tailpipe; those vehicles emitting large amounts of smoke and suspected of being highly polluting were subjected to testing. As of October 23, 2018, roadside testing had been performed on 85 occasions at 13 inspection locations. A total of 1,038 vehicles had been reported (including 30 vehicles requiring license plate identification). Of these vehicles, 1,008 had been stopped and tested, of which 658 met inspection standards and 350 did not meet standards (according to stage-1 opacity testing statistics). The failure rate was 34.7%.
(II) Visual inspection
As of October 23, 2018, a total of 6,999 diesel vehicle had been subjected to visual smoke inspection, and 3,462 vehicles were issued standard-compliance documentation after re-screening. Of these vehicles, phase-2 and 3 vehicles had the highest pass rates, 40.6% and 25.6%, respectively.
(III) License plate identification
As of October 23, 2018, diesel vehicle license plate identification had been performed on 66,998 vehicles, and license plate numbers had been acquired for 37,179 vehicles. Of these vehicles, phase-1 vehicles accounted for 6.1%, phase-2 for 15.6%, phase-3 for 27.1%, phase-4 for 21.6%, and phase-5 for 29.7%.
(IV) Random oil sample inspection tasks
Oil samples from vehicles visiting smoke emissions inspection stations for testing were inspected in a total of 6,891 cases and tested for sulfur content in 25 cases. Roadside testing was performed in a total of 1,008 cases, and testing for sulfur content was performed in 12 cases; all samples sent for testing met standards (the regulatory standard for sulfur content in diesel vehicles is 10 mg/kg).
III. Operation and management of inspection stations
(I) Plan quality assurance and quality control tasks
Annual maintenance and quality assurance of vehicles were completed in January 2018. Inspections were completed a total of 15 times in accordance with the "Testing Methods and Procedures for Smoke Emission Opacity in Diesel Motor Vehicles" and the "Testing Methods and Procedures for Smoke Emissions from Diesel Motor Vehicles." Smoke control charts were produced and a monthly quality control follow-up for tested vehicles was conducted.
(II) Auditing tasks
1. On March 22, 2018, committee members Gu Fu-zhong and Wang Ming-wen were invited to the Station to perform auditing tasks. Additionally, talks on the topics of "2018 Correlation Testing Results" and "Improvement of Suspected Illicit Modification Work by Contracted Testing Enterprises Near this Station” were given. They also assisted personnel in auditing the station's quality control data, applying corrective improvement measures, and conducting testing tasks.
2. An internal audit was performed on May 24, 2018, by colleagues from a peer laboratory who were certified for auditing. A total of 2 deficiencies were found and improvements have since been made.
3. On July 26, 2018, committee members Gu Fu-zhong and Wang Ming-wen were invited to present views and recommendations concerning the “2018 Correlation Testing and Re-testing Results.”
IV. Facility upgrades and improvement tasks
As of October 23, 2018, 9 facility projects had been completed, including interior and exterior painting of the station. By the end of May, contracts for the aforementioned projects had been reported to and approved by the Bureau.
V. Project controls
(I) Self-management of fleet
As of October 23, 2018, Yuanhuang Transportation Co. and 29 other companies, with a cumulative number of 661 vehicles, were investigated. Of these companies, only Lihtai Construction Enterprise Co., Ltd. had its own maintenance shop and oil tanks; the oil tanks were sourced from Formosa Petrochemical Corporation. Additionally, one company in the city had installed diesel particulate filters in its fleet: Chang Yi Motor Transportation Co., Ltd., which is enumerated on the investigation list.
At 2:00 p.m. on September 10, 2018, a seminar was held at the 9F conference room of the New Taipei City Main Library. Chen Xing-zhong, a teacher at the New Taipei Vocational High School, spoke on the topic of "Implementing Diesel Vehicle Maintenance to Enhance Air Quality," and Division Chief Lu Rui-yao from the Transportation Division, First Highway Police Team, National Highway Police Bureau, spoke about "Promoting Safe Driving for Large Vehicles." All participating passenger and logistics companies benefited greatly from these talks.
(II) Capacity comparison of service shops
This year, black smoke detection equipment in Scania-certified service shops were inspected and compared. The aim was to ensure that smoke detection equipment was indeed being used to assist in the maintenance and adjustment of emissions as a replacement for good behavior. Overall comparison results met compliance standards.
(III) Controls for diesel vehicles suspected of illicit modification
The city has gradually heightened the standards for inspection since February 2017. This year, requirements have been added for vehicles requiring a secondary inspection to provide receipts and proof of repair and maintenance; for specific roadside evaluation criteria; and for vehicles to which inspection is denied due to horsepower issues to be re-inspected on
the following day. In addition, other control measures were promoted, including the regulation establishing that diesel vehicles denied inspection due to low horsepower must return to the county or city that notified the driver or the registered location of the driver for re-inspection. The low horsepower rejection rate was further analyzed: from January to May 2017, the rejection rate was 16.8%; the rejection rate of the same period in 2018 was 8.4%. The decline in the rejection rate shows that the situation of illicit modifications has improved.
(IV) Specific regional inspection
In response to the implementation of future laws and approval requirements, drivers were assisted and advised that vehicles on the road should first visit an inspection station on their own and obtain the self-management mark by passing inspection. The main purpose of this is to facilitate free and smooth inspection approval. Currently, the specific control areas are Taipei Harbor and the city’s incineration plant.
1. Taipei Harbor controls
Along with the application for the Taipei Harbor permit, guidance was provided for vehicles entering and exiting the harbor area to obtain the diesel vehicle self-management mark. On one hand, this mark may be used as a way to identify a vehicle's emissions and determine whether to stop the vehicle for inspection (vehicles without the mark can be directly stopped for smoke emissions inspection). On the other hand, it may be used to provide guidance in the application for the passage permit in the Keelung Port Area. In situations where for some reason smoke emissions have not been improved, different incentives and subsidy policies of the EPA, such as transformation and replacement, or installation of diesel particulate filters are offered, to achieve the goal of replacing phase-1 and 2 vehicles and installing diesel particulate filters in phase-3 vehicles.
(1) Roadside testing was performed at 19 sites on a total of 224 vehicles. Of these vehicles, 74 failed stage 1 (opacity rate), accounting for a failure rate of 32.3%. Of those 74 vehicles, 73 were tested in stage 2 (filter paper reflection type). 11 vehicles failed, accounting for a failure rate of 15.1%.
(2) At Taipei Harbor, a total of 1,285 vehicles suspected of polluting were told to visit an inspection station based on a visual smoke inspection. Among these phase-1 and 2 vehicles accounted for the highest percentages, at 69.6%.
(3) Through license plate identification data analysis, it was found that the proportion of vehicles visiting the inspection station has increased by 1.5% compared with the previous year.
2. Waste disposal vehicles controls
This year, there will be implementation of access control measures starting from July 1, 2019; and, starting January 1, 2020, there will be regulations establishing that phase-1 or 2 diesel vehicles may not apply for or extend their disposal licenses. Advocacy seminars were held to provide guidance in advance for professional diesel vehicle drivers, advising them to cooperate in self-management or visit inspection stations. This was done in the hope that vehicles on the road can develop the habit of visiting inspection stations before these control measures come into effect.
(4) In cooperation with the EPA's elimination policy, guidance was provided on strategies such as the replacement subsidy (NT$50,000 to NT$400,000) for large phase-1 and 2 diesel vehicles and the installation of diesel particulate filters in large phase-3 vehicles.
(5) With joint control of the industrial waste management division and incineration plants of the city, the dates regarding future control program stipulations have been confirmed and guidance has begun.
VI. Education and training
(I) In accordance with the annual plan, 40 education and training sessions concerning inspection station testing tasks are to be conducted; 42 sessions have already been held.
(II) The Organizational Personnel Training Session and Training Workshop on the Analysis of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Inspection Stations in Other Counties and Cities was held on May 23, 2018. At this event, engineers from the Taiwan branch of the Scania Motor Vehicle Group spoke on the topic of "Introduction to Diesel Vehicles and Spot Inspection Guidelines”; Chinese Medicine Doctor Chen Yun-jing spoke on "Commonly-seen Occupational Health Hazards"; and the project manager, lecturer Hu Xin, conducted a discussion on "Analysis of the Strengths and Weaknesses of Inspection Stations in Foreign Counties and Cities."
(III) Other personnel from the project were sent to take part in education and training classes needed for diesel vehicle control tasks; 6 people received certification.
VII. The “Little Environmental Bureau Chief” activity
The "Little Environmental Detective" activity was conducted in conjunction with the "12 New Taipei City Little Environmental Bureau Chief Classes” activity organized by the Environmental Protection Department of New Taipei City. This activity included educational topics on air quality monitoring and handling environmental science cases. The activity was completed in March 2018. Participants included the Environmental Protection Department of New Taipei City, Low Carbon Center, Global-Analyst Co., Ltd., Envimac Technology and Consultants Corporation, and 143 students and their parents.
