Sun Moon Lake's diesel yachts to give way to electric boats

Want China Times, CNA 2013-05-31

The Guo Yi No. 2, powered by lithium-ion batteries, started operating
in February. (Photo/Shen Hui-sheng)

The more-than 100 diesel yachts on Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan's Nantou county will be replaced with electric boats over the next 14 years to help improve environmental and tourism quality, the administration office of the national scenic area said Wednesday.

The office said a subsidy program to encourage ferry operators and tourist yachts owners to convert from diesel to electric will run until 2027.

Under the program, participants can receive a subsidy up to a maximum of NT$7.1 million (US$235,000) or less than 50% of the cost of rebuilding a boat or installing relevant equipment.

For example, the owner of the first tourist boat covered by the program this year has receive a subsidy of NT$6.1 million, said Chen Yi-chuan, an office section chief.

The vessel, the Guo Yi No. 2, which started operating in February, is powered by lithium-ion batteries that only need to be recharged every eight hours. This allows around 12 round trips on the lake per charge, Chen said.

The office provided subsidies for two boats last year, and two more electric boats covered under the program will start operations later this year, he added.

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