The Government has set aside $17 million for green initiatives in the transport sector.
So far, $4.6 million has been spent on four projects, two of which have already been found to be not feasible.
In responding to queries from The Straits Times on the $17 million sum, which was stated in this year’s Budget, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said the money is for supporting “ongoing and possible future initiatives and research towards improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in land transport”. Projects completed or under way include a $500,000 trial on the feasibility of retrofitting older diesel vehicles with particulate filters, which would cut the amount of black soot emitted.
The year-long trial, involving 38 vehicles, ended last January. It found that such filters would result in a 99 per cent reduction in soot emission, but the high cost of installation (about $17,000 per vehicle) and maintenance (about $2,400 yearly) were deterrents. Also, the majority of such vehicles could not be retrofitted.
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