Taxi sector against DSAT’s electric vehicles requirement

Chan Io Fai

The Transport Bureau (DSAT) has received suggestions from some people within the taxi industry to allow the use of hybrid vehicles in the upcoming transport initiative which will introduce 100 new taxis to Macau. Many other suggestions were strongly voiced by the taxi industry to DSAT yesterday, during a meeting where the bureau explained the reasoning behind the criteria of the 100 new taxis.

Approximately 80 people attended the meeting to present their fierce opposition to DSAT’s criteria during question time.

According to DSAT, the operations concerning the 100 new vehicles should begin in the second half of 2018. The price of an eight-year licence starts at MOP200,000. The vehicles must be exclusively electric-powered, four-seater cars (excluding the driver’s seat). GPS devices should be installed inside the taxi as well.

Leng Sai Vai, president of the Associação dos Comerciantes e Operários de Automóveis de Macau, asked whether the related concession requirements were legal and whether hybrid vehicles could be used.

Many other speakers also voiced their opposition to the specific requirements for electric cars, chargers, and the brand of the electric vehicles. 

A participant, surnamed Fong, responded that “the most polluting vehicles are public buses. You have been working on [electric buses] for a long time. Any success so far? Macau’s most polluting vehicles are the public buses and the casino shuttles. Why don’t you [require] electric [vehicles] to replace these vehicles?”

Another participant, surnamed Lau, wondered whether there would be sufficient time for taxis to fully recharge. He asked about the number of chargers and the number of electric taxis which are currently operating in Macau.

Another participant voiced his anger, saying, “You [the government] ask the residents to balance [the situation] themselves. […] If the government and the public buses do it first, then we will have nothing to say.”

“The hybrid vehicles which we are using basically produce zero emissions. Now, the problem is that you are assigning that [one specific] brand. I think there are interests [involved in the decision],” hinted another taxi driver.

A few other speakers asked whether it would be possible for drivers to know, at any given moment, which chargers were available. They also asked about the number of electric cars that the government is currently using.

Chan Io Fai, Chief of the Vehicles Division of DSAT, said that Macau currently has 119 chargers, including 28 superchargers. The city has also around 250 electric vehicles, 172 of which are private cars.

It was suggested that drivers call parking lots in advance to determine whether chargers were available as required.

In Chan’s words, those who are interested in bidding for the license, should “consider themselves regarding charging conditions. The government’s chargers are only for assistive measures. […] You should only bid after considering all factors.”

When answering questions, Chan said that DSAT has already received more than 100 bids.

“Regarding the brand of these vehicles, we have not specified any. […] Until the third quarter of 2017, the government has been using approximately 20 electric cars,” Chan disclosed.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Chan noted that there are currently nine models from two brands available that meet the government’s requirements.

“There is a vehicle service group who will apply for another brand,” said Chan.

Chan also disclosed that two casinos, Studio City and MGM, are applying to DSAT to use electric shuttle buses, and one of them has applied for eight electric buses.