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To: fred whitridge who wrote (2387)	9/29/1998 11:14:00 AM
From: Don Devlin	Respond to of 8393

Taiwan really makes a move! c) Copyright 1997, Bangor Daily News Inc. 207-990-8000 491 Main Street, PO Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402 USA === EV - Tradewinds (TWI) Electric scooters receive boost from government 09/21/98 Copyright(C) 1998 TRADE WINDS The Taiwan government has made environmental protection one of its major auto industry policies and as result passed a proposal, drafted by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), to promote the development of the electric-scooter industry on the island. The law will require domestic manufacturers to devote a minimum percentage (as yet to be determined) of annual production to electric scooters by the year 2000. Initially the government set this production level at two percent, which equates to around 20,000 electric scooters on the market two years from now, however, the level is now being reconsidered and may be increased to as high as 10 percent. In order to promote the use of electric scooters, the government will subsidize the scooters themselves as well as the batteries. The scooter subsidy will apply to both local and imported scooters and will be as high as NT$5,000 (US$145), with battery subsidies between NT$3,000 and NT$10,000 (US$85 to US$290) depending on the type of battery. According to the EPA, under the subsidy plan, the price of an electric scooter will be lower than that of traditional gasoline-powered 50cc motorcycles. Michael Hsu, a specialist at the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), said the electric-scooter industry is one of the most important industries the government wants to promote. He said the government and private sectors have been working together in the development of electric scooters. The Energy Commission under the MOEA commissioned the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to develop whole electric-scooter technologies. The EPA tested the prototypes at domestic universities and the results are now being evaluated. Manufacturers, meanwhile, have been striving to develop better performing, higher value-added products. They are cooperating with the ITRI on the development of key components, with breakthroughs being achieved in both product performance and production techniques. Joint-ventures currently underway aimed at developing electric scooters for the Taiwan market include one between Sanyang, Yamaha, PGO and Suzuki, and another between Kwang Yang and General Electric of the U.S. Both joint-ventures plan to commence production this year. /CONTACT: David Spokes, Marketing Manager, International, of Telxon Limited, 44-1202-785300, or dspok@telxon.com/ 09:00 EDT ===