Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Regulatory Impacts on Innovation
efforts, 5 more ZEBuses have been scheduled to
be put onto streets in late 2009 or 2010 (CARB,
2010a and 2009a). The ZEBus Regulation has not
only prompted fuel cell development and other
ZEBus demonstrations in California and other
parts of the United States but also reduction in
pollutants emissions from these transit buses.
Subsequent to the introduction of the ZEBus
Regulation, California has witnessed lower ni-
trogen oxide emissions and an 85% reduction in
particulate matter from transit buses as of 2010
(CARB 2010a and 2009a).
The ZEBus Regulation has successfully kick-
started the first and second phase of ZEBus dem-
onstrations in California. Although ZEBuses are
still at the demonstration stage, it is an important
step toward promoting TEI. First, the stringent
zero-emission regulatory requirement created a
strong pressure to force different stakeholders,
including the energy and automobile sector, as
well as the transit agencies, to search for the most
innovative solutions. The zero-emission require-
ment is so high that it has pushed all relevant
stakeholders to join hands in search of the best
solution. This is very important for radical TEIs
which demand the support of a critical mass.
Second, the early announcement of regulatory
implementation sends a clear signal to all relevant
stakeholders to act without delay. Without a clear
and strong signal, all stakeholders would most
likely wait for others to move first, avoid taking
risk, and stick to conventional technology due to
positive-externalities; other TEI developers and
suppliers may also be unwilling to invest because
of the uncertainty associated with radical TEIs.
Third, the ZEBus Regulation created opportuni-
ties for progressive and continuous updates with
the support of a process-based regulatory system
which allows public participation. It does not have
the drawbacks of minimal compliance common
in command-and-control (C&C) regulatory ap-
proach. Stakeholders have more incentives to
integrate TEI development as part of their business
strategy. Finally, strong economic incentives in the
form of government funding and other capability-
enhanced measures were provided to support the
ZEBus demonstration.
In the first phase, one demonstration was
completed and two others are ongoing, involv-
ing a total of 7 ZEBuses. The second phase of
advanced demonstration as required by the 2006
Amendments were scheduled to start in late 2009,
involving a total of 12 hybrid fuel cell buses in 5
Promoting the Adoption of
LPG Taxis in Hong Kong: The
Role of Air Pollution Control
Regulations in Relation to the
Diesel-to-LPG Scheme
Regulatory Details
The second case study examines the adoption
of LPG taxis in Hong Kong in early 2000 and
the role of Air Pollution Control Regulations
and policies in relation to the diesel-to-LPG taxi
replacement scheme.
Hong Kong's environmental policies and
regulations are heavily C&C oriented (Hills,
2005). In the early 1990s, a government proposal
to mandatorily replace all diesel taxis by petrol
ones was strongly opposed by the taxi trade,
academics, and politicians alike. The diesel-to-
petrol scheme was put forward to the LegCo by
the Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau
(PELB) in 1995. Due to the lack of stakeholder
support, it was quickly rejected by the LegCo and
put on shelve forever (LegCo, 1995). The lack of
thorough public consultation prior to submitting
the proposed scheme was considered the major
cause of the policy failure (Hung, 2002). With the
continual worsening of air quality in the late 1990s,
and with diesel vehicles being the major source
of road-side air pollution (Lau et al., 2007), the
