Due to the lack of funds, inspection equipment, and human resources for controlling diesel vehicles, the regular testing policy has not been implemented, and all diesel vehicles cannot be fully managed. The irregular inspections were carried out at the present stage, including the visual determination of smoke, handling public reporting cases, notifying diesel vehicles suspected of pollution, and performing roadside pull-over inspections, etc. Through those actions performed, it was understood that implementing vehicle maintenance and repairs can effectively ameliorate vehicle pollution emissions. The number of diesel vehicles in Kaohsiung city is ranked first place in the country, which presents that diesel vehicles produce the largest pollution loading. Since 2011, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government has selected 13 certified service shops of the original motor companies or passenger transport companies. Demonstration of diesel vehicle regular inspection has been carried out by this project, and the “Diesel vehicle regular testing demonstration stations” have been established. Based on the integration of maintenance and inspection, the demonstration station conduct smoke emissions testing and immediate maintenance, thereby expanding the capacity of diesel vehicle testing in this city and coaching vehicle owners to join the self-management. The implementation results illustrated the period, brand, type, and pollution degree of diesel vehicles that have not been tested and recorded in this city. The quantitative analysis was conducted based on the implementation results and supplement with the feedback of vehicle owners in order to optimize the analysis of the inspection satisfaction and the support for the regular inspection. Those analysis outcomes are the reference for the implementation of the future diesel vehicle regular testing and the evaluation of the feasibility of the regular testing.
The execution period of this project is from July 8, 2020, to July 7, 2021, and all work is carried out in accordance with the schedule. In the quantified target of this project, the "Demonstration plan of regular testing" was submitted on August 7, 2020; six service shops were established as the demonstration stations, and 3 sets of inspection equipment were provided; 1,921 vehicles were tested the regular inspections of diesel vehicles, of which 1,883 qualified for subsidies with a total of NT$282,450 was allocated for the subsidy of inspection fee; 6,119 diesel vehicle inspection notifications were sent; two sets of management systems were established, including the license plate identification management information system and the diesel vehicle smoke exhaust regular testing management information system. Moreover, the regular testing demonstration stations were visited at least once a month to check the inspection sites, inspectors, smoke exhaust inspection procedures, equipment calibration records, and the issuance of self-management labels as well as follow-up tracking item.
According to the effectiveness of operating the demonstration plan of diesel vehicle regular testing, 2,470 vehicles were inspected among the total number of inspection notifications sent, with a return rate of approximately 40.3%. In addition, the regular testing demonstration station inspected 1,264 vehicles, which showed the highest inspection rate of the brand DAF, tractor of operating vehicle, and the phase-5 vehicles (produced after January 1, 2012). The first version of the questionnaire was distributed of 1,047 copies, of which 734 were valid questionnaires. Analyzing the results of the questionnaire, most of the regular inspection participants were satisfied with the inspection and service quality of the demonstration stations. The participants also supported the establishment of diesel vehicle regular testing stations in cooperation with service shops and implementing the diesel vehicle regular testing policy. Only a few vehicle owners claimed that there were too few regular testing demonstration stations, and recommended that the inspection appointment time be more flexible, more testing stations be set up, and the old car replacement policy which should be implemented. In consideration of cooperating with the implementation of the regular testing policy, the highest priority was the convenience of the inspection location. Since the initial survey results seem to be unable to obtain accurate feedback information, this project adopted the suggestion of the mid-term progress report review committee to revise and prepare the second version of the questionnaire. A total of 825 copies of the questionnaire were issued, of which 574 were valid questionnaires. Analyzing the results of the questionnaire, the main reason for the inspection of vehicles was receiving notification sent from the Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB); most of the regular inspection participants were satisfied with this inspection operation. Additionally, 99.0% of the regular inspection participants supported the diesel vehicle regular testing station which was cooperated between the EPB and the service shops. The ratio of the regular inspection participants with 89.5% supported the EPB to promote the diesel vehicle regular testing policy. Furthermore, for the future promotion of the diesel vehicle regular testing policy, the highest acceptable amount could be "NT$200-400" if the fee system was adopted. The percentage of the regular inspection participants with 71.8 believe that the "certified service shop with EPB authorized and approved" was the priority to select the inspection location; 54.5% of the regular inspection participants would recommend an "official document notification" if the diesel vehicle regular testing policy was promoted.
This project conducts the feasibility analysis of the regular inspection of diesel vehicles through interviews and investigation forms of various service shops. For the implementation of the feasibility part, most service shops expressed their willingness to establish the regular testing station in order to enhance their corporate image and provide customers with multiple choices but did not limit the vehicles in this city. The main reason for the complaints or reflect at the present stage of the regular inspection policy from the customer was that the selection of testing locations is too few. Besides, service shops agreed that the most suitable location was the certified service shops authorized by the EPB. For the technical feasibility part, most of the service shops indicated that they are willing to purchase equipment and attend the test to get licenses by themselves through subsidies. In addition, it was recommended to move towards paperless operations and set up more testing locations. Analyzing the monthly regular maintenance number and annual maintenance frequency of each service shop, the evaluation presented that the service shop would inspect for the regular maintenance customers at least 700 vehicles every year. In terms of the feasibility of the schedule, most service shops believed that vehicles should be inspected according to the year of production, and only one recommended an annual inspection. In terms of economic feasibility, half of the service shops believed that the testing subsidy for a vehicle should be increased to NT$300-500. Besides, if the subsequent diesel vehicle regular testing policy was adopted to charge the vehicle owner, the service shops of passenger transport companies would charge NT$200-600 and the service shops of original motor companies would charge NT$600-1000.
According to the statistical analysis of inspections at the demonstration stations, the main types of vehicles to be inspected were operating vehicles; the number of vehicles with the brand of HINO and VOLVO was about 50%; the number of vehicles with the age of 6-10 years accounted for 37.7%, the highest ratio. Apart from this, tracking the vehicles inspected at the demonstration stations for the record of smoke emissions inspection in the past 5 years, the result presented approximately 80% to 90% of vehicles that had no inspection records in each year and 936 vehicles with inspection records. On the contrary, 979 vehicles had no inspection record in the past 5 years. It was showed that the proportion of vehicles inspected through this project to promote regular testing demonstration stations exceeds about 50%, which effectively ameliorated the smoke pollution of diesel vehicles.
Through this project to implement the maintenance and repair of vehicles, it is estimated that vehicle pollution can be reduced TSP: 48.16 metric tons/year, PM10: 48.16 metric tons/year, PM2.5: 44.31 metric tons/year.
