The Smart Mobility Association Taiwan (SMAT) held a press conference on the 9th, together with several members of parliament, to announce the findings of the 2024 Electric Vehicle Industry Survey. The survey targeted members of parliament, with 70.5% of respondents believing that Taiwan’s electric vehicle industry policies lag behind those of other countries. In response to this, SMAT’s chairman, Chiu Chun-Jung, noted a significant shift from 2020 when nearly half of the legislators thought Taiwan was leading the way, but now perceive it as falling behind.
The survey was conducted by the Sun Moon Polling Agency, and General Manager Ho Li-Ping explained that it involved questionnaire responses from 61 out of the current 113 legislators. Among the respondents, 57.1% were from the Economic Committee, 60% from the Social Welfare and Health Environment Committee, and 60% from the Transportation Committee.
Regarding the primary goals of promoting Taiwan’s electric vehicle industry, 60.7% of legislators identified environmental sustainability, while the same percentage highlighted the transition to net zero emissions, and 54.1% emphasized air pollution control. The survey results also indicated that 93.5% of legislators support the central government’s efforts to promote the development of the electric vehicle industry.
In terms of current policies related to Taiwan’s electric vehicle industry compared to other countries, 60.7% felt they were slightly behind, with 9.8% considering them significantly lagging. As for support for SMAT’s initiative to promote the “Electric Scooter 333 Policy,” 29.5% expressed strong support, and 59% were somewhat supportive.
The “Electric Scooter 333 Policy” includes incentives such as a subsidy of 3,000 yuan per electric scooter sale provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, reinstatement of a 3,000 yuan subsidy for new electric scooter purchases by the Ministry of Environment, and a monthly subsidy of 300 yuan for battery fees for the public by the Ministry of Transportation. The Economic and Transportation Committees fully endorsed this policy, while the Social Welfare and Health Environment Committee showed 88.9% support.
Chiu Chun-Jung noted that in 2019, there were over 168,000 electric scooters sold with a market share of 18.7%. However, by 2023, only 79,487 electric scooters were sold, representing a market share of 9.1%. The sales volume and market share halved in four years, aligning with legislators’ perception of the shift from leading to lagging policies in the electric vehicle sector. It is hoped that with the new cabinet in place, government agencies can work together to achieve the targets set by the National Development Council, leading Taiwan towards the forefront of net-zero carbon emissions.