Sun Moon Lake to introduce electric buses in October

Want China Times, CNA 2014-05-04

Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan's Nantou county. (File
 photo/Shen Hui-sheng)

Top tourist attraction Sun Moon Lake aims to become Taiwan's first scenic area to use only green tourist buses with the introduction of three electric-powered buses in October, transportation officials said on Saturday.

The buses will replace the three diesel buses running in the area to promote low-carbon travel, officials said.

The area has also introduced 35 electric cars for rent at low prices since April last year, providing rides to nearly 10,000 people as of September, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

Since over 90% of those users previously relied on their own vehicles to get around the lake area, the plan has cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 11,300 kilograms, the ministry said.

Further promotion of low-carbon transportation could reduce the use of private vehicles from 41.7% to 34%, the ministry predicted.