Motorcycles have become the most popular private means of transportation in Taiwan. However, as the number of motorcycles per unit area is so large that they produce all kinds of pollutants in an urban environment where the traffic stops and goes, causing a great deal of damages to human bodies and environment. Also, as most of motorcycle owners are not used to take care of their vehicles and keep them well maintained, the emission of pollutants by motorcycles is now one of the major sources of air pollution. In view of this, Environmental Protection Bureau, Chiayi City (or EPB) has put several measures in effect for control of emission of exhausts by motorcycles, including regular and roadside inspections for vehicles in use, outdoor campaign, and management of inspection stations, in the hope to thoroughly improve the emission of pollutants by motorcycles with all these control measures. The report summarizes data collected from Mar 10 2008 to Dec 31 2008. The following are the achievements of primary works, as well as the process and effects:
1. Motorcycle roadside inspections
Up to Dec 31 2008, 13,542 motorcycles were inspected, in which 4,331 were pulled over at roadside inspection spots, 9,211 recalled for further inspections, achieving 112.9% of progress. The mid-term inspection results show that the overall reply percentage from inspection spots in residence areas is compared with the types of other inspection locations, and the control strategies for intensified community and nighttime inspections will be developed by the end of the period, as to increase the percentage of inspections in residence areas in all inspections, and to make the reply percentage in residence areas equivalent to the reply percentage of all other types.
2. Roadside motorcycle inspections
Up to Dec 31 2008, 3,181 motorcycles were inspected with the achievement percentage of 106%. 656 failed the inspections with a percentage of 20.6%, 609 went through second inspections with a percentage of 92.8%. In all, CO reduction achieved 61.2%, HC improved by 48.2%, which are 14.03 tons/year of CO and 3.11 tons/year of HC as expressed in numbers.
3. Inspection station auditing and evaluation
Up to Dec 31 2008, 338 stations were inspected with the achievement percentage of 100%. The stations listed for control were required to attend further training sessions on Jul 17, Oct 21 2008 and Jan 15 2009 for rectifying their defects. In total, 52 stations attended these sessions. The training was effective, since these inspection stations made fewer mistakes as they made before.
4. Notice of inspection for vehicles that failed to report for inspections
Up to Dec 31 2008, 27,483 notices were issued for inspections, and 11,576 vehicles reported to inspections with a reporting percentage of 42.12%. The reduction of CO was estimated 40.8 tons/year and HC 9.6 tons/year.
5. Gas matching for instruments at inspection stations
Up to Dec 31 2008, 34 stations went through 5 times of gas matching, totaling 169 station-times with the achievement percentage of 100%. The data showed that after the matching, the instruments, model RIKEN RI-803, displayed higher readings in CO2 measurement. With the latest inspection program certified by Environmental Protection Administration in 2008, the inspection stations were asked to calibrate the instruments not only at the beginning of a day, but also at 3:00 PM every day, before the inspections could be started. This ensured the inspection quality of these stations.
6. Propagandas
Up to Dec 31 2008, 12 propaganda events were given. In total, 779 motorcycles were inspected for free, 131 failed the inspection and 128 returned for second inspections, accounting for the second inspection percentage of 97.7%. This year, the City provided, as a trial, financial assistance for motorcycle owners to install air filters, allowing the owners to sense the effects of reduction of pollution caused by vehicle emission, and later facilitate the understanding and promotion of emission reduction. Therefore, by exploiting the free motorcycle inspections provided as a propaganda event in the mobile pollution source control project, financial assistance was provided for installing air filters in motorcycles that failed the inspections, and the motorcycles installed with the filter went through a second inspection as to allow the owners to experience the improvement of their motorcycles in reducing pollutant emission. During the propaganda, 100 owners had their air filters replaced. CO emission is improved by 62.7% and HC by 47.9%. It was estimated CO reduction of 3.02 tons/year and HC 0.63 tons/year.
7. Quality Control at Inspection Stations
Undercover auditing was carried out in May and Oct at several inspection stations, totaling 66 stations inspected in 2 batches. The result showed that a handful of inspection stations were still found making mistakes. For example, the name of inspector and that shown on inspection receipts were different, the station did not print out inspection result, and there were misconducts of inspectors. In addition to being asked for immediate improvement, these stations were listed for attending training sessions. In April and October, 33 shops and 68 stations went through instrument circuit testing and auditing. The result showed that the maximum tolerance fell at +/- 4%, indicating that the inspection instruments of motorcycle inspection stations in Chiayi City maintained at the optimal conditions in standby mode for a long time, while still ensuring the accuracy of inspection data at these stations.
8. Improvement of inspection quality at these stations – Full promotion of barcode readers
The inspection stations in the city have to inspect 130,000 motorcycles every year. It is an important management issue to ensure the quality of inspection data. In addition to monthly random auditing, there is random anonymous auditing with testing motorcycles. However, the burden on these stations is heavy. With heavy burden come mistakes. As a result, there are still some of the stations making mistakes, such as typing the wrong license numbers of motorcycles under inspection, which bother the motorcycle owners. With barcode reading, the accuracy of overall inspection data was improved. The error from barcode reading is close to zero, and it is estimated that the inspection time will be 2 minutes shorter, leading to 8.4 tons of reduction in CO2 emission.
9. On-site vehicle noise test
This year, 22 vehicles went through the test, and one came out failing the test. The test was carried out in 5 individual days between Apr 3 and Jun 2 at the emission inspection station for diesel vehicles and the plaza in front of Sanhsin Pavilion at Lantan. The arithmetic mean of noise level is 82dB(A). 22 vehicles went through the test, and one was determined failing the noise criteria with an average noise level of 88.9dB(A)。 Also based on type of vehicles, there were 2 gasoline-fueled cars with an average noise level of 86dB(a), 3 diesel vehicles with an average noise level of 87dB(a), and 17 motorcycles with an average noise level of 80.7dB(A). Clearly the diesel vehicles have the highest noise level.
10. Telephone surveys for implementation quality of motorcycle inspection stations
The survey collected 640 effective results, which showed that more than 99% most of motorcycle were satisfied with the service provided by the station staff and trusted their professional skills, and almost all the owners said that the stations did not force them into buying things. It indicates that EPB’s management of inspection stations over the years had paid off and the stations were making people feel comfortable and trustworthy. Also, the interviewees were asked to give a rating to the inspection station that they had gone to. The highest rating was 93 and lowest 80. The average was 87, indicating that the service provided by each individual station was similar in terms of service quality and people believed that the service was excellent. Amongst all the interviewed owners, 24% of them forgot where they went for inspection after they had done it, indicating that there is still room for improvement in terms of marketing. It is hoped that the inspection stations work to improve their marketing strategies by giving their care and kind reminders to customers, making motorcycle inspections a happy thing to do for better environment.
11. 2008 Job performance evaluation charts
According to evaluation index and rating criteria for the self-evaluation chart for the auditing of implementation performance in the mobile pollution source auditing and control plan of the 2008 Chiayi City air quality maintenance and improvement project, the rating to be obtained could be 3.2% for motorcycles as mobile pollution source, and the current rating is 2.98%.
