Yulon Motor and Affiliate CMC Showcase Green Vehicles

World's highest PTW distribution in Taiwan

The Yulon Group of Taiwan, the largest car-making conglomerate on the island, continues to show not only its prowess in making innovative vehicles, but also its commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen: its flagship firm Yulon Motor Co. recently debuted the own-brand LUXGEN full-electric multi-purpose van (MPV)—the Luxgen7 EV+; while another affiliate China Motor Corp. (CMC) debuted its first e-scooter—e-moving—at the 2010 Taipei International Auto Show.

Industry sources say that CMC's development of the e-scooter is part of Yulon's overall program to build green vehicles as electric vehicles (EVs). To minimize intra-group and product-redundancy competition against Yulon Motor, CMC, also the local assembler of Mitsubishis and Chryslers, has been commissioned to develop independently e-scooters and e-bikes.

Perhaps not totally an eco-conscious move, automakers in Taiwan have been diversifying into electric vehicles (EVs), for the Taiwan government offers subsidies to promote using environmentally-friendly transportation, which would also help build downstream business for parts suppliers.

The Taiwan government has passed laws backing an official four-year plan budgeted at some NT$1.6 billion (about US$49.2 million) to subsidize e-scooters and e-bikes meeting required vehicular and battery performance standards.

Aiming to build both user- and environmentally-friendly vehicles, CMC says that it will begin mass producing the e-moving with automotive techniques that meet car-like quality levels.

With the government subsidy, CMC says, riders will be able to buy the e-moving at lower prices compared to gasoline-powered scooters meeting the local fifth-stage emission regulations stipulating installation of electronic fuel-injection.

Ample Justification

Justifying its dedication to building e-scooters, CMC says Taiwan has the world's highest powered two-wheeler (PTW) density, meaning more PTWs are distributed per unit area in Taiwan than anywhere: As of October 2009, about 15 million PTWs are licensed on the island. Estimating half of Taiwan's 32,260 square kilometers of land is currently habited or about 16,130 square kilometers, such density equals about 930 PTWs per square kilometer, and far higher in the most densely populated cities as Taipei and Kaohsiung. Taiwan, only the size of Maryland and Delaware combined, has mostly uninhabited mountains over maybe a third of its land. In comparison, Houston has only an average population density of 1,154 per square kilometer; Los Angeles at 2,846 and NY City at 9,115, according to the June 1998, Population Division Working Paper No. 27 compiled by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Incredibly there may be as many or more PTWs per square kilometer in crowed areas in Taiwan than people over the same area in Houston, Texas. Such figure may frighten a Green Peace activist but rings of excellent business potential for the likes of CMC.

Coupled with the official policy support, CMC is committed to developing e-scooters, and is confident of healthy sales of the e-moving, which adopts LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries that last much longer, while riders will save further on fuel tax, gasoline, and possible repairs of parts, numbering more on internal combustion engines, as well as upkeep costs to replace lubricants.

iF Product Design Award Winner

The e-moving is also a winner in global recognition, having garnered a prize at the 2010 iF Product Design Award or the "Design Oscar.” CMC says that the design of the e-scooter takes into consideration the whole package, achieving an optimal combination of ecology-friendliness, catchy styling, high technology, and user convenience, as well as adopting generally rounded exterior to minimize coefficient of drag; while the coveted honor will also motivate CMC to stay in the green vehicle sector.

The e-moving's cartoonish, multifunctional electronic instrument cluster also reflects its high-technology, with indicators for residual battery power, speed etc.

With a dedicated reflector designed with automotive optical techniques, the e-moving's headlight is also capable of high-output illumination.

The e-moving also features upmarket conveniences as the patented electric parking stand, electric-reverse, automotive-grade cruise control, and overdrive for hill-climbing or acceleration. The electric parking stand, single-button-activated, is expected to be a big selling point for seniors and women would find it especially appealing.

Equally confident of e-moving's quality, CMC, a carmaker with established automotive techniques, says Taiwan has many internationally competitive makers of parts, systems and batteries, who can easily form a capable supply chain.

Literally with work cut out, CMC says it is ready to effectively distribute and service the e-moving via its network of dealers: 143 service points island-wide can repair, maintain and recharge the scooter as necessary.

CMC's e-moving Specifications
Model		EM196		EM198 (Luxury)
Specification	Length (mm)	1630
	Width (mm)	618
	Height (mm)	1070
	Tire (front/rear)	80/100-10 35J
	Wheel	10-inch aluminum alloy
	Weight (kg)	60		62
Suspension	Front	Dual
	Rear	Mono
Brake	Type	Drum (front/rear)
Motor	Type	Brushless/outboard
	Maximum Horsepower (W/hp)	1350/1.8
Battery	Type	LiFePO4
	Portability	●
Charger	Input Voltage	110-220V
	Charging Time	Fully in 2 hours
Safety	Anti-burst	●
	Central Lock (including seat lock)	●
	Anti-theft Lock	●
Hi-tech Equipment	Electric Parking Stand	--		●
	Electric Reverse	--	●
	Cruise Control	--	●
	Overdrive	●
	LCD Instruments	●
Source: CMC, December 2009