In a drive to create a greener environment and cut down carbon dioxide emissions, showrooms and vendors nationwide will be required to display energy efficiency labels on automobiles and motorcycles that are for sale starting on July 1, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday.
“When the requirement takes effect, consumers will be able to include ‘energy efficiency’ alongside other factors when they consider which vehicle to buy,” Bureau of Energy Director-General Yeh Hui-chin (葉惠青) said in a statement.
The move will also encourage automakers to develop or distribute overseas models with better energy efficiency, which would help cut down on pollution, he said.
Taiwan has the highest density of automobiles and motorcycles in the world and therefore vehicles that consume large amounts of gas or diesel seriously degrade air quality, the MOEA said.
Starting on July 1, the energy efficiency labels — which include information on annual gas consumption and the gas usage per kilometer — will be required to be “displayed prominently” in showrooms and on product brochures.
For vehicles shipped after Sept. 1, disclosure of such information must be included as part of the product descriptions to ensure transparency, the statement said.
Separately, the MOEA said yesterday that two more electric motorcycles have been selected by the government to be included in its cash rebate program.
Joining the “e-Mo” (model EV3A) — which was developed by E-Ton Power Tech Co (益通動能科技) and was the first to be certified for the program in November last year — are the “Sunboy” (model EA10BB) from Kwang Yang Motor Co (光陽機車) and the “e-moving” (model EM198) from China Motors Corp (中華汽車).
All three electric motorcycle models have been certified by the government and consumers are entitled to a NT$8,000 (US$242) cash rebate when they purchase them, the MOEA said.
The government launched the scheme last year in a bid to push the adoption of battery-powered automobiles and motorcycles.
Those who purchase an electric motorcycle are entitled to a NT$8,000 or NT$11,000 rebate depending on the specification of the model, with various municipal governments also handing out extra subsidies, the statement said.
In other news, the MOEA is implementing a high-tech job promotion program to help bring down the country’s unemployment rate, an official said yesterday.
“Under the program, a total of 10,000 high-tech research jobs will be generated over the coming three years,” said Lin Chuan-nung (林全能), deputy director of the MOEA’s Department of Industrial Technology.
To achieve the goal, the department will assist local companies to carry out forward-looking research and development projects, such as for highly integrated digital chips, advanced display systems, precision machinery and new high-end materials.
As these projects require huge injections of capital and manpower, Lin said the MOEA would help companies acquire special research and development subsidies.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA
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