Hsinchu County Environmental Protection Bureau is committed to the control of diesel-fueled vehicle pollution and commissions the “diesel-fueled vehicle emission test program at dynamometer inspection stations” on a regular basis as an effort to improve the air quality of Hsinchu County and provide a clean, refreshing environment for citizens. The inspection control and tuning improvement are carried out from time to time for the improvement of air quality in Hsinchu County, as well as reduced pollution and environmental protection. This program is designed to inspect the diesel-fueled vehicles running in Hsinchu County. The diesel-fueled vehicles are informed of inspection at the stations based on citizens’ reports and visual inspection on emission. Also, license plate identification system is introduced to check the emission of diesel-fueled vehicles within the self-management areas of the county.
A total of 2,825 vehicles were informed of inspection at one of the inspection stations during the program. 65 of them were rejected and 2,760 were inspected, including 135 that failed the inspection for unqualified rate of 4.9%. For those that completed the inspection, those with the age between 22 and 24 years and exhaust emission between 6,000 and 7,000 c.c. accounted for the most among those that failed the inspection; by mileage, the opacity increased roughly with the accumulated mileage; by type of vehicles, the small commercial trucks accounted for the highest unqualified rate in 2019.
For roadside inspections, 1,525 vehicles were stopped for inspection and 99 were requested for inspection based on visual inspection and the established black list. Among the vehicle inspected, 51 failed the inspection for unqualified rate of 51.5%. It is found in the roadside inspections that small commercial trucks exhibited the highest opacity, while small private trucks displayed the similar trend in this aspect. For the visual inspection on emission, 19,583 vehicles were identified and the notifications for visual inspection on emission were issued for 146 of these vehicles. The percentage was higher for vehicles of 24 years of age or older.
This year, the self-management programs were promoted along with the establishment of specific self-management areas as a continuous effort. 662 companies operating large passenger and cargo vehicles signed the self-management agreement during the program for a total of 2,813 diesel-fueled vehicles. 1,734 self-management mark stickers were issued. The opacity was improved by 41.0% for vehicles enrolled in the self-management, indicating that the self-management did help with the reduction of vehicle emission. 17 joined inspections were carried out in the specific self-management areas on 406 vehicles with unqualified rate of 54.5%; 49 visual inspection on emission were performed in these areas and 24 notifications for inspection were issued; 115,720 license plates were identified and 4,505 vehicles were issued the inspection notification.
As of now, 31 companies have signed up for the “environmental protection fleets” since the launch of CSR fleets for the program, and a total of 592 diesel-fueled vehicles are included in the control list. As far as the environmental protection fleets are concerned, the overall opacity was merely 0.20m-1. The program has facilitated the signing companies and the vehicles they are operating for the retirement of 22 old large diesel-fueled vehicles, achieving substantial reduction of pollution.
A series of presentations, visits to companies, telephone interviews and questionnaire surveys have reached out to 2,897 Phase I through III large diesel-fueled vehicles eligible for subsidy. Applications have been filed for 126 vehicles for a total retirement subsidy of NT$ 34,820,000. For diesel particulate filter, the payment review was completed for the Phase III subsidy for 6 vehicles and the total payment is estimated to be NT$ 210,000.
For the reduction of pollutant emission, the improvement is estimated to come from the pollution improvement done on vehicles of high pollution that failed inspection, vehicle tuning and retirement. It is estimated for this program that the pollutant particulates were reduced by 31.87 tons/year.
