Mobile pollution sources (MPS) are one of the causes 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, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, 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 high-polluting vehicles and reduce their pollution emissions. The end-of-term report of each work item of the plan accounted for the period beginning January 3, 2020 and ending December 2, 2020. The relevant details of implementation are as follows:
5,884 diesel vehicles were inspected by dynamometer, the main reason for which was self-management; of those inspected, 24 vehicles were found to be unqualified in the first stage, and the failure rate was 0.4%; the rejection rate for insufficient horsepower was 4.7%. In addition, according to the quality assurance statistics for 2019, the same vehicle quality control test was carried out once monthly, and the 2020 quality control map was produced to ensure test quality.
During inspection and control, 83 roadside inspections were performed, and a total of 1,266 inspections were completed; 188 vehicles were found to be unqualified, and the failure rate was 14.8%. 4,058 diesel vehicles were subjected to visual smoke inspection. After re-screening, 2,535 vehicles were found to be suspected of pollution, and 1,958 were issued compliance documentation, of which phase-2 and phase-3 vehicles accounted for the highest proportion. 5,884 oil samples from vehicles stopped at smoke emissions testing stations were screened, and testing for sulfur content was performed in 21 cases. Random roadside testing was performed in a total of 1,266 cases, and testing for sulfur content was performed in 21 cases; all samples sent for testing met standards. However, the results of oil inspection from 6 diesel vehicles were greater than 9 mg/kg; those vehicles were recalled for re-inspection and attached with fuel-purchase certificates. Among those vehicles, the inspection results of 5 vehicles still met oil use standards. A sample from 1 vehicle was sent back for inspection, which is still in progress; and one is in the process of being notified.
In terms of specific regional control, the city's traffic emission road network and vehicle density analysis show that the density of diesel vehicles is the highest in the Port of Taipei at 13,000 vehicles/km2; there are also sensitive areas, such as residential areas, medical care centers, and schools in the nearby Bali District. Therefore, priority planning designates the Port of Taipei as the city’s air quality maintenance zone and will proceed in accordance with the Environmental Protection Administration’s drafting and review specifications for air quality maintenance zone MPS control measures, and measures for the assessment of the necessity for control, rationality for control, feasibility of implementation, benefit and impact assessment, and expected result analysis have been submitted to the central competent authority for review. The Environmental Protection Administration convened a meeting on June 17, 2020 to review the city’s measures designating the Port of Taipei as an air quality maintenance zone, and the results of that review found no violation of the constitution, laws, or regulations authorized by the law; on August 28, 2020, obtained the approval letter from the Environmental Protection Administration for announcement; on September 25, 2020, the New Taipei City Government officially announced that the Port of Taipei is the city's first air quality maintenance zone.
Incineration plants implement access control measures. Phase-1 and phase-2 vehicles entering and exiting plants must have exhaust gas inspection records that are qualified within one year. The waste disposal planning section of the Bureau provides smoke emissions analysis records by license plate number, and these records show that there were 102 fewer phase-1 and phase-2 diesel waste removal vehicles entering incineration plants after the implementation of access controls as compared to before such controls were in place; all 51 vehicles that continued to drive passed testing. The PM2.5 estimates a reduction of 5.5 (tons/year).
Coordinated with Nanya Corporation (its Shulin and Linkou plants), through enterprise reduction negotiation, to formulate management measures for vehicle access. Vehicles from contracted manufacturers that have been out of the factory for five years must have a qualified inspection record within the past year before entering the factory. By use of license plate identification for the control of 3,574 vehicles, 10 vehicles more than 5 years old had been found to not have obtained a qualified inspection record within the past year.Through compulsory inspection and open real-time inquiry system, the overall management rate has reached 100%.
In addition to strengthening inspections and access controls in specific regions, to promote self-management, the city has a total of 80 self-managed vehicle fleets, consisting altogether of 7,245 vehicles, and whose mark obtainment and management rate was 89.6%. In addition, vehicles that have obtained self-management marks are inspected. In the current year, random inspections are prioritized for vehicles found to be unqualified at stations in the previous year, for high proportion of visual inspection (public) reporting, or for fleets of specific vehicle types (such as King Long Motor vehicles). Keelung Bus was found to have 5 unqualified vehicles, of which 1 was found to have failed inspections for three consecutive years.
Complied with the policy of the central government to promote the integration of maintenance and inspection, and included inspections for suspected unauthorized modifications at service shops into project inspection to deter such actions. Through administrative controls, inspections and follow-up visual inspections were strengthened, and the horsepower rejection ratio has been effectively reduced. Two vehicles were successfully stopped and tested that had passed testing at smoke emissions inspection stations (visual smoke inspection notice) and immediately entered the service shop suspected of unauthorized modification. After the closure of the roads surrounding the service shop for inspections, there were unqualified items discovered, which were immediately reported, thus strengthening the deterrence of unauthorized modification behavior of service shops.
Promoted guidance and certification of service shops; black smoke detection equipment in Scania-certified service shops were inspected and compared. The aim was to ensure that smoke detection equipment was being used to assist in the maintenance and adjustment of emissions as a replacement for unauthorized modification behavior, and the maintenance and repair and inspection data over the past two years was analyzed. Through cross-checking, screening, and comparison, accumulated data over two years shows that Scania-certified service shops are capable of black smoke maintenance and repair. Scania has completed negotiations with the manufacturer for follow-up software, and has acquired funding for tachometers and hardware servers. It plans to complete certification work before the end of 2020 and authorize the issuance of the self-management mark.
