Non-electric motorcycles emit six times more nitrogen oxide, a source of fine dust, than small-sized automobiles, since they emit large amounts of harmful substances caused by the incomplete combustion of fuel. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The government has been offering subsidies for those purchasing an electric motorcycle as part of its strategy to reduce air pollution.
The initiative, however, is facing difficulties as not enough electric motorcycles are being supplied to the public each year.
Rep. Shin Chang-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party said on Friday that the Ministry of Environment set a plan to supply 6,710 electric motorcycles from 2016 to 2018, but they only managed to supply 4,881 of them.
Non-electric motorcycles emit six times more nitrogen oxide, a source of fine dust, than small-sized automobiles, since they emit large amounts of harmful substances caused by the incomplete combustion of fuel.
The Ministry of Environment, in a comprehensive plan announced in September 2017 to tackle fine dust, vowed to supply 50,000 electric motorcycles by 2022.
Shin, who is also a member of the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, argued that the plan will become harder to achieve at this rate.
Government subsidies for electric motorcycles range from 2 million won to 3.5 million won (US$1,696-2,969) depending on their size and specifications.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
