Mobile pollution sources are one of the main factors that affect the air quality in
metropolitan areas, and are therefore one of the focal points of control by
environmental protection authorities, of which black smoke from diesel vehicles is the
most poorly perceived by the public. This project's objectives are to control diesel
emissions, with particular attention given to high-polluting 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 highpolluting
vehicles and reduce their pollution emissions. The plan was implemented
from December 3, 2018 to January 2, 2020, for a total of 13 months. The relevant
details of implementation are as follows:
I.Operation and management of inspection stations
(I)Vehicle testing
This inspection station uses testing software certified by the
Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) of the Executive Yuan 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 6,823
diesel motor vehicles had been tested as of January 2, 2020. The main reasons
for bringing vehicles in for testing were self-management (50.0%) and visual
smoke inspection (29.8%). A total of 60 vehicles failed the test in phase one
for a failure rate of 1.1%, in which 21 vehicles received the phase two
reflection type test and 10 vehicles failed the test for a failure rate of 47.6%.
A total of 408 vehicles were rejected due to insufficient horsepower and
abnormal conditions for a rejection ratio of 5.6%.
(II) Quality assurance and quality control
National correlation testing results show that in the testing line B
reflection-type smoke emissions testing, the smoke level at 40% of full load
exceeded the upper limit for warnings on the national correlation testing
control chart; the smoke level during rapidly acceleration without load
exceeded the upper limit of the national correlation testing control chart.
Actual sampling volume was found to be higher than the volumetric
coefficient by 20 ml after testing the smoke meter sampling volume.
Equipment adjustments were immediately made and the volumetric
coefficient was verified to be the same as actual sampling volume. Quality
assurance vehicle ASB-5119 was used at Taoyuan City Guishan for laboratory
comparison on July 25, and comparison results referenced the acceptable
quality level of |Z|≦2 specified in proficiency testing requirement TAFCNLA-
R05(7), indicating that testing results are satisfactory.
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; Roadside testing had been performed on 67 occasions at
26 inspection locations this year, and a total of 851 vehicles had been stopped
and tested; of these, 750 vehicles passed testing, and 101 failed testing
(according to stage 1 opacity tester statistics), for a failing rate of 11.9%.
(II) Visual inspection
A total of 10,040 diesel vehicles have been subjected to visual smoke
inspection this year, and 3,110 vehicles were issued standard-compliance
documentation after re-screening, in which the majority were phase 2-3
vehicles.
(III)License plate identification
Diesel vehicle license plate identification have been performed on 30,476
vehicles this year, and license plate numbers had been acquired for 22,039
vehicles. Low polluting phase 5 vehicles accounted for the majority at 40.6%,
followed by phase 3 vehicles at 23.3% and phase 4 vehicles at 20.9%, while
phase 1 and 2 vehicles accounted for 15.2%.
(IV)Nitrogen oxide analysis
To understand the relationship between traffic volume and air quality,
this project installed NOx micro-sensors at high traffic volume intersections
in Banciao District, investigating traffic volume while collecting NOx data
from Banciao Inspection Station of the EPA for comparative analysis of data
trends. Results show that a high correlation coefficient (reaching 0.9 or higher)
between NOx concentration at the Banciao Inspection Station of the EPA and
passenger car unit (PCU). The correlation between NOx measured by microsensors
and traffic volume was relatively insignificant, and may be due to the
effect of factors other than traffic volume. It is recommended to expand the
area of sampling to collect more samples, and continue to optimize the sensing
materials and algorithms of micro-sensors to increase data sensitivity.
(V) Random oil sample inspection
Oil samples from vehicles visiting smoke emissions inspection stations
for testing were inspected in a total of 6,823 cases and tested for sulfur content
in 26 cases. Roadside testing was performed in a total of 851 cases, and testing
for sulfur content was performed in 13 cases; all samples sent for testing met
control standards (the regulatory standard for the sulfur content of oil used by
diesel vehicles is 10 mg/kg).
III.Education and training
(I) In accordance with the annual plan, 13 education and training sessions
concerning inspection station testing tasks are to be conducted; 16 sessions
have already been held.
(II) Personnel training was organized on March 29, 2019 and an engineer from the
Taiwan branch of the Scania Motor Vehicle Group was invited to speak on
the topic of "Introduction to the Dashboard of New Phase 6 Diesel Vehicles."
(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.
IV.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 on January 12, 2019.
Participants included the Environmental Protection Department of New Taipei
City, Low Carbon Center, Global-Analyst Co., Ltd., Envimac Technology and
Consultants Corporation, and 140 students and their parents.
V.Equipment Improvement and Renewal
The equipment renewal "air conditioning equipment replacement" was
completed in April 2019, and passed the acceptance inspection.
VI.Auditing tasks
This laboratory conducts internal audits and reviews in accordance with TAF
procedure QP41404. An internal audit was performed on April 23, 2019, by
colleagues from a peer laboratory who were certified for auditing. A total of 1
deficiency was found and improvements have since been made.
VII. Project controls
(I)Capacity comparison of service shops
This year, black smoke detection equipment in Scania-certified service
shops continued to be 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 of illicit tuning. Maintenance
and inspection data was analyzed and compared, and no records of noncompliance
and rejection for insufficient horsepower. Two years of data show
that Scania service shop is capable of maintaining and repairing vehicles with
black smoke. It is recommended to pass the on-site evaluation by committee
members to become a service shop certified by New Taipei City, so that it will
be authorized to issue self-management marks.
(II) Self-management follow-up
This city has a total of 90 self-managing fleets with a total of 7,061
vehicles; 88% have obtained the mark. The list of self-managing fleets was
updated this year to track whether or not vehicles in self-managing fleets were
periodically inspected to obtain the mark, and also for promoting the EPA
policy to eliminate phase 1 and 2 vehicles and use low polluting vehicles.
Promotions will continue to target fleets with 10 or more old vehicles that
have a lower ratio of vehicles with the mark and vehicles without any
inspection records within the past year. This will increase the ratio of old
vehicles under control and increase the ratio of vehicles that obtain the low
emission mark.
(III) 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 selfmanagement
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, the city's incineration plant, and Nanya Park.
1. Taipei Harbor Controls
In coordination with the planning of air quality maintenance zones
next year and to provide guidance was provided for vehicles entering and
exiting the harbor area to obtain emission testing records within the past
year. This mark may be used as a way to identify a vehicle's emissions and
determine whether or not to stop the vehicle for inspection (vehicles
without the mark can be directly stopped for smoke emissions inspection).
2. Incineration Plant Controls
Access control measures were implemented on July 1, 2019. Phase 1
and 2 vehicles that enter the plant area must submit emission testing
records within the past year. Emission inspection records of vehicles that
enter the plant area provided by the Waste Affairs Section were analyzed,
and showed that among waste clearance vehicles that entered the plant
area after July 1, 2019, the inspection rate of phase 1 and 2 diesel vehicles
within the past year was 100%, and all vehicles passed the inspection.
Furthermore, advance notices were given during presentations in hopes
that vehicles on the road can develop the habit of visiting inspection
stations.
3. Nanya Park Controls
The majority of company cars belonging to Nan Ya Plastics
Corporation are phase 5 vehicles, of the 3,599 vehicles that were identified,
17 vehicles are 5 years or older and do not have a low pollution mark; its
compliance rate reaches 99.5%. License plate identification data will
continue to be collected for comparison with the diesel vehicle inspection
database of the EPA. If any company cars or the contracted fleet has diesel
vehicles that do not meet low emission standards, enhanced auditing will
be conducted for control.
4. Auditing service shop suspected of illicit tuning
The Environmental Protection Department of New Taipei City
implements administrative controls, enhanced inspection, and visual
inspection to effectively deter illicit tuning. These efforts have effectively
lowered the rejection ratio due to insufficient horsepower, and gradually
achieved the goal of deterring vehicle owners from illicit tuning. This
project has included routine inspections as part of its inspection duties in
2019, and successfully pulled over two vehicles that passed the test at a
smoke emissions testing station but failed the roadside testing. The
vehicles are suspected of using illicit tuning to pass the test at a testing
station, and were directly reported using the failed roadside testing results.
