Hsinchu City Boosts Electric Bus Subsidies to 99% Amid Low Public Transport Use

Hsinchu City faces a significant challenge with its public transportation system, as citizens show a strong preference for private vehicles. An audit revealed that public transport usage in the city is less than half the national average, with private vehicle ownership continuing to rise.

The audit highlighted that in 2023, only 6.8% of Hsinchu residents used public transportation, starkly contrasting with the national average of 15.2%. Concurrently, the number of private vehicles, including motorcycles and cars, increased by 7.25% between 2020 and the present year, exceeding the national average growth rate. This heavy reliance on private transport contributes to the city's environmental challenges.

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Hsinchu citizens' reliance on private vehicles remains high, and the electrification rate of city buses and official vehicles is low, leading to a year-on-year increase in transport sector carbon emissions, affecting overall carbon reduction effectiveness.

Furthermore, the electrification of public buses and city government vehicles lags significantly. As of late last year, only about 13% of Hsinchu's 77 city buses were electric, falling short of the targeted 30%. The city government's own fleet also shows low electric vehicle adoption.

In response, the Hsinchu City government has introduced a new subsidy program. Under the "Hsinchu City Electric Bus and Charging Facility Subsidy Measures," the city will offer a subsidy covering up to 99% of the purchase cost for electric buses when combined with central government funding. This substantial incentive aims to significantly boost the willingness of bus operators to replace their existing fleets. The city anticipates that this initiative will lead to the replacement of 37 buses this year, pushing the proportion of electric buses to over 50%. The city administration also plans to gradually electrify its entire fleet of official vehicles.

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The city government has increased subsidies for electric buses by 99%, significantly boosting operators' willingness to transition, and the proportion of electric buses will exceed 50%.