In order to fulfill three principal achievements of this research project, we have completed several planning and research processes listed as followed: 1. Execution of subsidies schemes including forehand operation on application, qualification and appropriation. From January to December of 2008, we have carried out “LPG subsidies schemes procedure” from application, qualification to appropriation. At this moment, there are 27 certificated stations with 273 monthly applications which have undergone qualification procedures. As the result, 104,600,752.23 liters filled LPG were qualified (i.e. 209,201,505 NT dollars were granted). On the other hand, we have completed 117 rounds of on-site inspection upon 27 LPG stations all around Taiwan. With standardized operational processes, we can effectively manage LPG subsides schemes. Furthermore, with the installation of CCTV monitoring system, nonscheduled inspection, and LPG consumption database establishment and analysis, as well as unusual incident handling procedures, we can provide sound and competitive environment for LPG industry. In order to reduce the paper use, we also introduce a computerization reform to simplify licenses verification. 2. Collection of international and domestic LPG relative information with advanced comparison and analysis i. International parts We have surveyed LPG industry practices among 15 countries, including 3 Asian countries (South Korea, Turkey, Japan), 8 European countries (Poland, Italy, Russia, Holland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Czech Republic, France), 2 American countries (U.S.A., Mexico), 1 African country (Algeria) and Australia. To sum up international LPG promotion strategies, there are favorable excise duty, vehicle conversion pension, LPG station subvention, free-zone designed for LPG vehicles and so on. Those countries who take favorable excise duty into practice including South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Italy, Russia, Holland, France, Mexico, Australia, Algeria and Sweden. As for conversion pension, there are South Korea, Japan, Italy, U.S.A. and Australia on the list. Japan and U.S.A. implement LPG station subvention and we could find out free-zone designed for LPG vehicles in South Korea, Italy, France and Mexico. In addition to those promotional strategies, low fuel price and low conversion cost are incentives for LPG vehicle market penetration. ii. Domestic parts a. According to vehicle registration data, there were 12 thousand LPG vehicles by the end of 2007. Newly-registered number was 8,255 in 2008, which increased the total number to 20,255 by the end of 2008. b. There are six LPG vehicle conversion companies with 36 service bases in total. Furthermore, there are 12 contracted franchisees available to convert 75 sedan models and 22 hatchback ones. The most monthly converting capacity was 1,686 units occurred in July, 2008. Due to the diminution of price gap between LPG and gasoline since then, the motivation for conversion has decreased significantly so that the number of vehicle converted has dropped consequently. c. According to LPG conversion and inspection training program held by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication, there were 299 certificated trainees by the end of 2008. d. There are 27 LPG stations distributed among 10 administrative regions in Taiwan as followed: Taipei City (5 stations), Taipei County (7 stations), I-Lan County (1 station), Kee-Lung City (1 station), Tao-Yuan County (3 stations), Taichung City (2 stations), Tainan City (1 station), Tainan County (3 stations), Kaohsiung City (3 stations) and Kaohsiung County (1 station). There are still 12 administration sectors, therefore, without any LPG station. e. There are nine LPG vehicle models available in the market with granted repair and maintenance service provided by manufacturers at present. They are Mitsubishi Grunder 2.4, Fortis 1.8 and 2.0 (belonging to CMC Motor), Buick Excelle 1.8 (Yulon General Motors), Teana 2.0, 2.3, and 3.5, Tiida 1.8, Blue Bird 2.0 (Yulon-Nissan Motor). In addition, Toyota is now negotiating with Taiwan converters to join LPG industry as well as CMC Motor is now carrying on LPG manufacture projects. iii. Cost and benefit analysis: main players in LPG industry include end-users, converters, LPG stations and the authority. Consequently, when taking cost and benefit analysis into consideration, we should not ignore the opinions from the private sector. a. Supposing a Taxi filled with 95 unblended gasoline (average price in 2008 was 30 NTD/liter) whose CAFE was 9.7 km/liter, its average cost per km was 3.1 NT dollars. If the taxi converting to LPG (average price in 2008 was 17.4 NTD/liter) with CAFE as 8.9 km/liter, average cost per km would be 1.9 NT dollars. If the taxi runs 28 days per month, 142 kms everyday, it would economize 4,771 NT dollars in total. (Reference: “Survey on the operation condition of taxi carrier”, The Department of Statistics, Ministry Of Transportation & Communications R.O.C.，2007) b. Without subvention, a LPG station will reach breakeven point at 250 vehicles everyday. With seven million NT dollar subventions, breakeven point will decrease to 225 vehicles everyday. With 10 million NT dollar subventions, breakeven point will further decrease to 218 vehicles everyday. c. When discussing diminution of air pollution, compared with gasoline, LPG decreases 0.35 g/km CO, 0.0028 g/km HC, 31.4 g/km CO2 but increases 0.15 g/km NOx. (Reference: “The Subsidy to debase the price of LP-Gas”, Automotive Research Testing Center, 2006) 3. Enhancement of training, education and business practices We have held “2008 LPG industry promotion and business coordination conference” on September 24th, 2008, “LPG vehicle promotion and demonstration seminar” on February 13th, 2008, as well as a serial of “Promotion LPG vehicle conference” on August 7th, December 8th, 2008 and January 13th, 2009 respectively. During these conferences and seminars, we have summarized the opinions and suggestions from LPG industry players as followed: i. Even though LPG stations have increased gradually, the total number is still below average, which will diminish the motivation to convert LPG vehicles. ii. On the other hand, both enormous capital investment as well as complicated establishment regulation will diminish the motivation to set up a LPG station. iii. The price gap between gasoline and LPG is in proportion to the number of LPG vehicles conversion. iv. Reinforcing technique and quality improvement of LPG vehicle is necessary. v. Regulating LPG vehicle conversion companies in order to improve their quality is important.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Reduction on Air Pollution Emission, Hybrid-LPG Vehicle