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Subsidy to remove older, two-stroke scooters ends soon

Motorscooter owners have until Dec. 15 to hand over two-stroke motorcycles that are at least seven years old in exchange for a cash subsidy of NT$1,500, environmental officials said on Monday.

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has set aside NT$525 million (US$15.7 million) since January last year for the program, hoping to phase out 350,000 aged two-stroke motorcycles, which are blamed for much of the air pollution in the country.

EPA officials said two-stroke motorcycles generate up to five times more air pollution than four-stroke motorcycles of a similar age.

The three-year program is also part of the Cabinet’s efforts to reduce emissions.

Cities and counties have been given different quotas each year on how many old but still running two-stroke motorcycles they can accept in return for subsidies.

The program began in Kaohsiung City, Kaohsiung County and Pingtung County last year and was expanded to other cities and counties this year.

By the end of last month, more than 30,000 motorcycle owners in Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties had turned in their old two-stroke bikes for recycling.
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