The EPA has revised and announced parts of the Regulations Governing Subsidies for Replacing Old Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (大型柴油車汰舊換新補助辦法). Provisions were added to allow vehicle owners to submit vehicle registrations and sales contracts of new vehicles first during application if they cannot submit documents to prove the completion of scrappage of phases 1 to 3 heavy-duty diesel vehicles and other new vehicle documents. Also, the date on the sales contracts of new vehicles can be used as the basis for determining the date of replacements. In addition, the revision added provisions for vehicle owners to apply for subsidies if they submit relevant supporting documents to show that their old vehicles can operate normally before they are scrapped.

Due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers or dealers of heavy-duty diesel vehicles are often unable to deliver vehicles and obtain license plates on time, which may exceed the time limit for vehicle owners to apply for replacement subsidies. Therefore, relevant regulations were revised to simplify administration and facilitate the application process.

Since the promulgation of the Regulations Governing Subsidies for Scrapping Old Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles (淘汰老舊大型柴油車補助辦法) on 16 August 2017, nearly 61,000 phases 1 to 3 heavy-duty diesel vehicles have been phased out, leading to reduction of primary pollutant emission, including 4,070 metric tons of total suspended particles (TSP), 55,271 metric tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 4,987 metric tons of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), and 19,356 metric tons of carbon monoxide (CO). Based on the results of NOx reduction alone, it is equivalent to having eliminated a year’s emission of 56.2 coal-burning units, showing that relevant programs have achieved the expected results.  

The EPA reminds vehicle owners that the application period will end on 31 December 2022. Vehicle owners can use the Online Application System for Diverse Subsidies for Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Program (https://dvs.epa.gov.tw/) to apply for a subsidy. Applications will be accepted once vehicle owners submit necessary documents by uploading them to the system.  

Excerpt from Major Environmental Policies, September 2022 Go Back