September 7, 2025 – Taoyuan, Taiwan
The number of electric vehicles (EVs) in Taoyuan City continues to climb, officially surpassing 10,000 earlier this year. To keep up with demand, the city government has accelerated the rollout of charging facilities, with 858 new fast and slow charging stations installed across 154 public parking lots.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Highway Bureau, Taoyuan’s electric passenger vehicle fleet grew from 7,789 units in July 2024 to 10,069 by February 2025. As of the end of July, the number had reached 11,491—representing 1.4% of the city’s nearly 790,000 passenger vehicles.
The Transportation Bureau reported that the new infrastructure includes 86 fast chargers with outputs above 180kW, 236 medium-speed fast chargers above 50kW, and 536 slow chargers above 7kW. The slow-charging units are equipped with Type 1 and Type 2 connectors, while the fast chargers support CCS1 and CCS2 standards, ensuring compatibility with most EVs on the market.
The first batch of 26 slow-charging sites, totaling 71 charging points, went online this September. Fast-charging facilities are expected to launch in November. However, the set rate of NT$9 per kilowatt-hour for slow charging has sparked debate among drivers.
One Tesla owner, surnamed Wu, said the price was unreasonably high compared to alternatives. He noted that charging seven kilowatt-hours during an hour-long session would cost around NT$63, making it less attractive than private operators or Tesla’s own Superchargers, which typically cost NT$8 to NT$12 per kilowatt-hour and offer faster charging speeds.
In response, the Transportation Bureau clarified that NT$9 per kWh is only the ceiling rate, with actual prices left to operators such as Delta Electronics and Huacheng Electric, depending on market conditions. The maximum permitted fees are NT$9 per kWh for slow charging and NT$12 per kWh for fast charging. Operators must report their pricing structures and promotional packages to the bureau for oversight.
To ensure proper use of the new facilities, the city government also enacted regulations this year prohibiting non-EVs from occupying designated charging spaces. Violators face fines ranging from NT$600 to NT$1,200 under the Parking Act.
Officials emphasized that the expansion of charging facilities, coupled with regulatory support, reflects Taoyuan’s commitment to encouraging clean transportation while addressing the practical needs of the city’s growing EV community.
