At the Cabinet's weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Chen Chien-jen received a briefing from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on a plan to achieve the full electrification of Taiwan's urban bus transportation network by 2030. The premier said that the plan, which runs from 2024 through 2030, is an important component of the government's overall goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The central government will continue to improve and enhance vehicle technologies, industrial development and subsidy schemes, the premier said, and he urged local governments to promote the adoption of large electric buses by city bus operators. By working together, we can create energy-saving, low-carbon living environments and provide users with high-quality public transport, he said.
Between 2020 and 2022, the government initiated a large electric bus demonstration project to drive forward the domestic electric bus manufacturing industry. The industry has achieved its interim goals and the project has stimulated Taiwanese car manufacturers to invest in autonomous e-bus design development and production capability, to provide domestic bus operators with a high-quality product that meets their requirements. The premier instructed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to continue supporting the advancement of electric bus-related industries, with a view to spurring new waves of industry development and gaining entry into international supply chains.
The premier added that the government has responded to the impact of climate change by issuing an outline for Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050, along with 12 key strategies for the transition to net zero. Among those key strategies is the development of electric and carbon-free vehicles. The government is currently prioritizing promotion of the bus electrification plan based on the maturity of the technology, but in the future will take further steps to facilitate the gradual electrification and decarbonization of other modes of transportation.