Taiwan’s electric automobile industry made a great leap forward yesterday with the introduction of the first locally designed and produced electric commercial van.
Sponsored by the Department of Industrial Technology under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the electric van is the product of joint efforts by several state-sponsored research institutes and industry alliances.
According to Wu Ming-ji, director-general of the DOIT, the van has a vehicle load of 500 kilograms and can run up to 100 kilometers per charge. The car, still undergoing test runs, is expected to hit the roads in the second quarter of 2011.
Citing industry statistics, MOEA Deputy Minister Huang Jung-chiou pointed out that potential demand for such commercial vans in Taiwan is over 5,000 cars a year. At NT$1.5 million (US$47,619) per car, the local market is estimated at NT$7.5 billion, while the global market is some 600 times larger.
In light of the huge business opportunities presented by the sector, local automakers have shown great interest in producing electric vehicles and developing key components such as electric batteries, power systems and charging facilities, Wu said.
Several logistics firms will also lend their support as they start delivering services using the locally produced commercial vans when they become available in early 2011, he added.
“If Taiwan can successfully develop new business models for commercial vans, the local sector stands a chance of becoming a turnkey solution supplier to the world,” the official said.
In addition to their economic benefits, EVs help save the environment. According to the MOEA, if all of Taiwan’s logistics firms replace their current fleets of vehicles with electric vans, they can reduce the country’s annual carbon emissions by 13,560 metric tons.
