People in the market for electric bicycles now have a wider selection to choose from, with models that go as fast as 40kph and free of pedals recently hitting the market, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday.
Until Nov. 30 next year, people purchasing an electric bike — with or without pedals — can apply for a one-time NT$3,000 subsidy from the EPA, officials said.
The EPA has given the subsidy to more than 36,000 owners of electric bicycles since 2001, said Yang Ching-shi (楊慶熙), director-general of the EPA’s department of air quality protection and noise control.
With the new pedal-less models, the EPA expects to subsidize an additional 5,000 bicyclists each year, he said.
“The new type of electric bikes are more like a lightweight motorcycle, but no license is required to operate them,” Yang said.
The subsidy scheme is part of the EPA’s efforts to clean up the air, as electric vehicles have a smaller environmental impact than gasoline-powered vehicles, Yang said.
“We provide the subsidy to encourage people to opt for this mode of transportation, which contributes little to carbon emissions and is much more environmentally friendly than a car or motorcycle,” he said.
Considering that motorcycles travel an average of 4,000km a year and emit 60g of carbon dioxide per kilometer, replacing 5,000 motorcycles with electric bicycles could reduce carbon emissions by around 1,000 tonnes per year, Yang said.
Consumers should consider buying an electric bike now, because the pedal-less models cost around NT$25,000 or NT$26,000, so the subsidy would mean a 10 percent discount, Yang said.
“The discount will be given at retailers, so consumers will be able to enjoy the benefits immediately. The retailers will then apply for the subsidy with us,” he said.
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