FEMTC Urges Taiwan to Promote EV Industry Development

Taipei, Dec. 30, 2010 (CENS)--A battery electric vehicle (BEV) running 20,000 kilometers per year can cut 4.5 tons of CO2 emission, or equal to planting 1,200 trees over a hectare, according to J.Y. Wang, chairperson of Formosa Energy & Material Technology Co., Ltd. (FEMTC).

FEMTC is a subsidiary of the Formosa Plastic Group (FPG), the largest petrol-chemical conglomerate in Taiwan. The company is one of the few companies in the world with patents and ability to develop lithium iron phosphorous oxide cathode material for mass production.

During a recent interview by a local newspaper, Wang urged the Taiwan government to map out clearer policies and provide more technical assistances for upgrading and accelerating the development of EV industry on the island. For example, she suggested, the government might consider to levy CO2 tax for subsidizing EVs and set up battery-charging and -swapping stations throughout the island, as well as unify the specifications of EV batteries.

Wang pointed out that China is ahead of Taiwan in promoting EV and battery industries with comprehensive range of policies and strategies. For example, a general BEV sold in China now can be subsidized 50,000 renminbi by the central government and 60,000 RMB by local government, or a electric public bus about 500,000 to 600,000 RMB. She stressed that government's subsidies are the key for popularizing EVs.

Wang said that by 2015, some four million BEVs are expected on roads, demanding more than 40,000 tons of cathode materials, compared to FEMTC's annual production capacity of 5,280 tons, which will lead the world then.

Wang also stressed that lead-acid batteries are not compliant with the European Union (EU) RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances) directive, and the lithium-ion batteries are expected to quickly replace lead-acid counterparts.