Taiwan to introduce 1st hybrid bus in 2011

Taiwan is independently building its first hybrid bus that will likely be operational in 2011, according to the Automotive Research & Testing Center (ARTC), the largest transportation-vehicle testing and R&D organization on the island. Annual output is projected to total about 2,000 vehicles, with plans to export to Europe, the United States and Southeast Asia. The ARTC set up the Low Chassis Hybrid Bus R&D Alliance recently to focus on building a homegrown, including design, bus driven by electric/diesel power. Previous to the hybrid bus alliance, the Taiwan Automotive Research Consortium (TARC) had set up the Electric Vehicle R&D Alliance to integrate resources available in government, industry, academia, and research institutes on the island. Joe Huang, president of ARTC who saw the alliance signing ceremony, said with subsidies from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and efforts by the hybrid-bus alliance, Taiwan will likely build a homegrown hybrid bus by 2011. The vehicle would not only further enhance green public transport but also show the island’s strong technology capability globally. (September 29, 2009)