Publication Time: October 28, 2024, 10:24:17
Economic Daily News – Reported by Weng Yongquan
To achieve the goal of full electrification of urban buses by 2030, the Ministry of Transportation has been implementing a three-phase plan—demonstration, promotion, and popularization—since 2020, with subsidy incentives in place. For the current promotion phase, each urban electric bus and intercity electric bus is eligible for a subsidy of 6.8 million NTD and 8.3 million NTD, respectively, significantly higher than the 1.1 million NTD subsidy for long-distance diesel buses. This demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to electrification. Additionally, to accelerate implementation, the Ministry revised its policy direction in April 2024, expanding incentives, which took effect in June 2024.
Chengyun Motor Intercity Electric Bus (Left) and 12-meter, 2-door Low-Floor Urban Electric Bus. Provided by Jiancheng.
Capital Bus Expands Electric Bus Fleet
Capital Bus Group’s General Manager, Li Jianwen, stated that since 2022, the company has procured 139 Chengyun fast-charging electric buses, which have been deployed on high-traffic routes such as Taipei’s Dunhua Main Line, 292, 685, and New Taipei’s Route 57. These buses align with the Taipei City Government’s transport expansion plan and have performed well in both operation and maintenance.
Recently, Capital Bus Group tendered for an additional 92 electric buses of the same model, expected to be delivered in Q4 2024, all of which will be deployed on the company's Taipei and New Taipei bus routes.
As the largest operator of rapid transit buses and highway coach services in Taiwan, Capital Bus is also evaluating the introduction of fast-charging intercity high-floor electric buses, aiming to revitalize the national highway transit sector and provide carbon-free green transportation for commuters in Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan.
Capital Bus Group General Manager Li Jianwen (Left) and Jiancheng Company Chairwoman Yu Liqing. Provided by Jiancheng.
Chengyun Motor’s Role in Taiwan’s Electric Bus Industry
As a leader in the demonstration and promotion phases of Taiwan’s electric bus program, Chengyun Motor offers a full range of electric bus models. In addition to its 12-meter low-floor urban electric bus, the company plans to launch intercity highway electric buses and 7-meter low-floor electric buses in Q1 and Q3 of 2025, respectively, to meet market demands outlined in the Ministry of Transportation's three-phase plan.
Fast-Charging Advantage
Jiancheng Company, the exclusive Taiwan distributor of Chengyun Motor, stated that all Chengyun urban electric buses are designed for fast charging, allowing them to resume operations within 6 to 15 minutes after recharging. For instance, a bus equipped with a 109 kWh battery can meet daily operational mileage requirements.
In contrast, slow-charging systems require larger battery capacities to sustain daily operations, doubling the investment in infrastructure and increasing parking space requirements by 1.3 times. This highlights the superior efficiency and cost-effectiveness of fast-charging systems.
Advanced Battery & Motor Technology
- Chengyun uses Toshiba’s Lithium Titanate (LTO) battery, known for high safety and minimal degradation, outperforming Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries.
- With a 3C charge/discharge rate, the battery offers an impressive 20,000 charge cycles, extending the lifespan twice as long as conventional batteries.
- Chengyun has developed its own 450 kW high-power direct-drive central motor, further enhancing vehicle performance and increasing local production of key components.
Chengyun Motor’s Independently Developed 450 kW High-Power Direct-Drive Central Motor. Provided by Jiancheng.
Industry Outlook & Future Goals
Yu Liqing, Chairwoman of Jiancheng Company, explained that under current operational regulations—such as scheduling, vehicle service life, and passenger conditions—replacing diesel buses with electric buses can lead to significant energy savings and increase operating profits by nearly 30%, marking a critical turning point for the industry.
Jiancheng has been actively marketing Chengyun Motor’s buses for years. Moving forward, Chengyun will collaborate with local supply chains to accelerate development and contribute to Taiwan’s 2050 net-zero goal. Key initiatives include:
- Increasing the localization of key components.
- Developing electric motors in-house.
- Opening a new factory in Erlin by 2026 to expand production capacity.
This signifies a major step toward electrifying Taiwan’s public transportation sector, fostering a greener future while boosting the local electric vehicle industry.