TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei’s Environmental Protection Department unveiled a 2026 subsidy plan that lets residents stack city and central incentives for up to NT$39,600 (US$1,250) when buying an electric scooter.

The department said Wednesday the plan keeps existing trade-in subsidies and adds larger early bird bonuses to encourage more people to switch to electric scooters. Buyers can also combine city subsidies with central government incentives to increase the total payout.

The department’s Director-General Cheng Ta-wei (程大維) said New Taipei ranked first among the six special municipalities last year for old scooter retirements and electric scooter growth. Cheng said the city raised the early bird bonus from NT$9,000 to NT$10,000 for the first 4,500 applicants.

The Commercial Times reported Wednesday that buyers can receive up to NT$4,000 for purchasing a new electric scooter and up to NT$10,000 for trading in an old one, with separate subsidies for electric mopeds and electric-assist bicycles. Low- and middle-income households can receive an additional NT$10,000.

The department said applicants must have been registered New Taipei residents for at least one year and purchase scooters from local dealers starting Jan. 1, 2026. Subsidies will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget runs out.