In preparation for the EcoMobility World Festival 2017 happening in Kaohsiung in October 2017, the Transport Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government organized an electric vehicle test-ride on January 22, 2017. The event took place at a newly constructed parking lot that was converted from a former wasteland within the Festival area.
Local residents from Hamasen district and Kaohsiung were already gathered at the event space early at 10 in the morning. This event provided an excellent platform for visitors to interact with the electric vehicle providers and to explore various types of electric vehicles, including electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and others. Prior to the test-ride, the electric vehicle providers explained different aspects of the electric vehicle as well as the safety-related specifications. Mr. Ching-Fu Chen, the Director General of the Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government was also present to test-ride the electric scooters.
As the EcoMobility World Festival 2017 will be organized in the Hamasen district, the city government is actively encouraging more Hamasen residents to adopt electric vehicles. Special subsidies are available to incentivize them to switch to electric vehicles. This scheme attracted local residents to inquire about the subsidy program and to experience the electric vehicles.
One of the main challenges the city faces in the process of encouraging higher adoption of electric vehicles is to convince the elderly who are accustomed to their usual mode of transport to switch to electric vehicles. This is essentially due to the lack of understanding of electric vehicles. Nonetheless, after a detailed demonstration by the electric vehicle provider, these elderly quickly adapted. In fact, most expressed that riding on an electric vehicle was quite a novel experience.
Such events are crucial for local community to familiarize themselves with the ecomobility narrative. On top of that, locals are able to compare the riding experience and quality between various modes of electric vehicles. The city government envisions higher penetration of low carbon transport at every household in Kaohsiung. Thanks to all the exhibitors and visitors, the event was a huge success – with new experience, lucky draws, and even a cup of warm aromatic coffee!
