Shanghai, January 5 (Gasgoo.com) Taiwan's economic planning department is set to unveil a subsidy package to promote the development of electric-powered cars on the island, Taipei Times reported today.
The E-car subsidy package, now awaiting the local government's approval, includes a reduction in commodity and license taxes and a cash rebate for electric car purchases.
Taiwan is planning to launch a six-year scheme to promote the use of electric cars, as fuel prices show no signs of coming down and there is growing awareness of the importance of green energy utilization.
The first three years of the scheme would focus on education, with 10 parts of the island as "electric car zones." The aim is to have 300 drivers of electric cars in each zone. The subsidy package would come into effect in the fourth year, the report said.
However, industry executives said infrastructure, such as recharge stations, plays a big part in the take-up of electric cars and is as important as a subsidy scheme. A cash rebate of NT$20,000 would seem "too low," said Leman Lee, vice president of Yulon Nissan Motor.
Taiwan's auto industry is well positioned to usher in an electric car era, thanks to its edge in auto-parts and vehicle manufacturing, and the local government is urged to push ahead with the initiative.
