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. To achieve the objective of controlling diesel emissions, this project not only strengthens inspection, including roadside check/inspection, inspection station tests, visual smoke inspection, and parked, idling, and turned off vehicle inspection, on an ongoing basis, but also conducts control programs and educational campaigns. These programs and campaigns are designed to help car owners understand that maintenance and inspection go hand in hand. It is also required that proof of maintenance be provided when being inspected at the station. The requirement is meant to ensure effectively that all highly-polluting vehicles will be fully repaired before an inspection, thereby reducing pollution. The results this year are as follows:
According to the data collected up to the end of October, except for general environment and road traffic monitoring operations (scheduled to be completed by the end of November), all tasks were 100% completed. The results are shown in Table 1. Dynamometer inspection stations for diesel vehicles, roadside check and inspection, or visual smoke inspection was performed 5,035 times in total, and license plate identification 22,133 times. To raise the percentage of vehicles under management in the city, notice of inspection was sent to owners of vehicles registered in the city and carrying expired labels. A total of 400 notices were sent. A sample of 425 cases was randomly selected, 10 of which were tested for sulfur, 301 for parked, idling, and turned off vehicle inspection, 109 for technology enabled enforcement inspection of motor vehicles in use, and 34 for general environment and road traffic monitoring.
Regarding the program to promote self-management, a total of 627 self-management labels were issued this year. The self-management program 2.0 and Hsinchu County worked together to promote green transport (where diesel vehicles used by the companies or outsourcing service providers had to be Phase 4 or later vehicles, Phase 3 vehicles with air pollution prevention equipment, or Phase 3 vehicles without air pollution prevention equipment but test results complied with Phase 4 standards) as CSR in Hsinchu Science Park. Interested companies were invited to submit pledges. As of the end of October, 366 companies had submitted documents. After the screening process, 126 companies and 384 diesel vehicles met the campaign standards. The reason for not meeting these standards was use of vehicles outside the scope of pledge. Use of diesel vehicles that do meet these standards will be monitored on an ongoing basis. The results and a press release are expected to be announced and award given out in December.
Regarding the air quality maintenance pilot zone, inspection and control were planned for six locations this year, and 20,406 inspections were carried out. The average completion rate at the end of October was 63.6%. For the purpose of enhancing control in the air quality maintenance pilot zone, the Hsinchu Bus Station was selected to be an air quality maintenance zone this year. Large passenger/cargo diesel vehicles and small cargo vehicles that have not passed a smoke emissions testing by any county's environmental protection bureau in the year following the inspection date .
Regarding the campaign for service shop certification, the focus was on improving the quality of the existing service shop inspection. According to data as of the end of October, authorized/certified service shops, Chang Yuan Motor and Hsinchu Bus, together issued a total of 430 self-management labels. In addition, representatives were sent to inspect these two service shops every month. One Class B service shop, Yongfeng Jet, was added to the list of guidance recipients this year. This service shop is approved by the Environmental Protection Administration to receive subsidies for adjustment/repair of fuel control for large diesel vehicles. It is equipped with one opacity meter and one worker with a diesel vehicle inspection license. Therefore, instrument calibration has been performed every month since January in order to verify the inspection/repair capabilities and quality assurance. Furthermore, this service shop passed an onsite evaluation performed by two committee members on September 27, and was upgraded to Class A service shop. Authorization for issuance of self-management labels will be completed by the end of the year.
As a solution to obstacles and fraud currently involved in control of noise from motor vehicles in use in the city, one stationary motor vehicle noise detection system was installed across from No. 151, Sec. 2, Guangfu Rd., East Dist., Hsinchu City, which was a location associated with frequent noise complaints. After 24 hours nonstop filming, the system quickly identified illegally modified vehicles, and acted as an effective deterrent against noisy vehicles.
In summary, according to data on the controls above as of the end of October, 167large diesel vehicles were replaced (data provided by the mobile pollution source management system), thereby reducing PM10 by 9.81 tons/year; PM2.5 by 8.67 tons/year; and NOx by 151.3 tons/year.
