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LETTER

Anything but ‘Super Dink’

There have been several letters written recently about pedal power. As an avid bicyclist I am all for this, but let’s face it, with Taiwan’s plum rains, sweltering summer heat and typhoons, it’s not very practical to ride your bicycle to work everyday.

On the other hand, driving a car here can be a burden with gas prices going ballistic, no parking and congested streets. This is bound to get worse with the influx of Chinese tourists that will eventually want to rent cars. The other option besides mass transit is a scooter, but you take your chances. As the saying goes, there are only two types of scooter riders, the ones who have been in an accident and the ones that are going to be in an accident. I mention this from experience.

So what’s left? What is the ideal solution? And another question: How can Taiwan exploit their manufacturing and design expertise to make a positive name for itself in the fight against global warming? It seems only logical that Taiwan, with its well established motorcycle industry, develop some type of high mileage, easy to park, air-conditioned, three-wheel covered vehicle such as that presented online at www.carver-worldwide.com.

Perhaps local manufacturers have something like this on their drawing boards already, but I haven’t seen anything offered yet. If patents are holding them up, maybe a new government investment plan could fund this as part of the iTaiwan thing. It should be mentioned that the price has to be extremely affordable or else it will be a flop, like the Smartcar.

Perhaps the government can subsidize part of the purchase price or give out some type of zero-interest loan to offset the cost instead of subsidizing gasoline. This type of vehicle can also be used as a single passenger taxi, thus allowing taxi drivers to save gas money and reducing pollution.

By the way, there was an article on MSNBC recently about an electric car called the “Think City” that will be mass-produced in the USA next year. I think in Taiwan’s case, we would need more nuclear power to support a massive electric car industry. Considering the amount of earthquakes we get here every year, I don’t think this is such a good idea.

The world is ready for a small commuter vehicle and Taiwan should grab this opportunity. Please just don’t call it ‘Manboy’ or ‘Super Dink.’

Marc Plumb

Taipei


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