Taiwan to build 60 battery exchange stations for green cars

Starting February 2012, Taiwan is planning to build 60 battery exchange stations to encourage the use of green or environmentally friendly vehicles.

 

Environmental Protection Administration Minister Stephen Shen said the stations will be built in New Taipei City in the north and Kaohsiung City in the south.

 

Taiwan's Central News Agency quoted Huang Chih-shu, general manager at Kentfa Advanced Technology Corp, which will manage the project in the south, as saying the goal of the pilot project is to service some 5,000 electric motorcycles.

 

In northern Taiwan, the project will be managed by City Power Taiwan Co., which will receive a government subsidy of NT$45 million (US$1.48 million).

 

It will set up 30 battery exchange stations in the Banciao district.

 

Another 30 stations in the south will be set up along the Kaohsiung Metro line, in industrial areas and in the Cijin area in the city.

 

Last June, the EPA promulgated the Electric Motorcycle Battery Swapping System Subsidy Regulations.

 

Under the program, a subsidy of NT$1.5 million per station could be allocated to encourage companies around the country to set up battery stations. — TJD, GMA News