Taipei County to waive costs for e-cars

The Taipei County government is working on a plan to exempt drivers of electric vehicles from paying power recharging and parking fees as part of an expanded program to promote the environmentally friendly vehicles and cut down on greenhouse gases. Owners of electric vehicles can have their batteries recharged at designated parking lots, enabling them to save at least NT$60,000 (US$1,853.37) per year in parking fees alone, plus further saving on fuel costs. Officials said the county will become the first local administration throughout Taiwan to provide such facilities free of charge for people who choose electric vehicles. (December 25, 2009)