Yulon Group to Set Up EV Battery-Exchange Stations in Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 21, 2011 (CENS)--Yulon Group, a major carmaker in Taiwan, reportedly signed a cooperation agreement with Better Place of Israel, an electric vehicle (EV) battery-exchange solution provider, and plans to set up many battery-exchange stations in Taiwan, according to the Chinese-language economic daily newspaper Economic Daily News (EDN).

Better Place has been actively trying to develop battery-exchange systems in different markets, including a sample in Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. Industry insiders say that the most expensive part of an EV battery-exchange project is the cost for battery logistics and stock, which might cost about NT$10 billion (US$333.3 million) when the domestic market is mature.

The battery-recharging and -exchange infrastructure is one of the most important parts of a successful EV-operation plan, plus other parts as vehicle safety and prices.

Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has agreed to subsidize private companies in Taiwan to set up recharging or battery-exchange stations throughout the island.

Yulon Group is a major player willing to construct EV battery recharging and exchange stations on the island. The group has set up an affiliate with initial capitalization of NT$300 million (US$10 million) to handle such business.

Yulon also makes battery electric vehicles (BEV), having launched several BEVs under its LUXGEN or tobe brands.

Both the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and EPA said that it is difficult to estimate the total investment required for setting up comprehensive EV recharging infrastructure in Taiwan before more EVs are adopted.

In the second half of 2010, six e-scooter models passed the stringent TES (Taiwan E-Scooter Standard) mapped out by the government and won official subsidizations.

Nissan of Japan and Laser Tek Taiwan Co., Ltd. of Taiwan have proposed EV demonstration-operation proposals to the government.