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The EasyCard is a
contactless smartcard A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit-card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store (and sometimes process) data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit ticket ...
system operated by the EasyCard Corporation, which was previously named the "Taipei Smart Card Corporation", for
payment A payment is the voluntary tender of money or its equivalent or of things of value by one party (such as a person or company) to another in exchange for goods, or services provided by them, or to fulfill a legal obligation. The party making the ...
on the
Taipei Metro Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), branded as Metro Taipei, is a rapid transit system serving the areas of Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan, operated by the government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which also operates the Maokong Gondo ...
(also known as "''Taipei MRT''", or "Taipei Rapid Transit System"), buses, and other public transport services in
Taipei Taipei (), officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about southwest of the ...
since June 2002, and its usage has since expanded to multiple kinds of businesses. Its use has also since been expanded to include convenience stores,
department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic app ...
s, supermarkets, taxis, and other retailers since 1 April 2010. Like conventional electronic fare systems, the card employs RFID technology to operate without physical contact. They are available for purchase at all Metro stations and all chain convenience stores.


History

The Taipei Smart Card Corporation was established in 2000 with a total capitalization of NT$700 million. Shareholders include the
Taipei City Government The Taipei City Government (TCG) is the municipal government of Taipei. History The Taihoku City Government was founded on 10 October 1920 in Taihoku Prefecture during Japanese colonial rule. The original city hall was located at the site o ...
, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, banks, bus companies, and other companies. Promotional trials of the card began in 2001, and the card was officially released in 2002. In 2008, the company changed its name to the EasyCard Corporation to increase branding and visibility. By April 2016, the company had issued over 60 million cards. EasyCard transactions now account for 91% of Taipei Metro system transactions, 92% of
bus A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
transactions, and 71% of parking lot transactions. Daily transactions reached 3.1 million in 2009.


Brand

The name EasyCard was chosen in a contest where the general public was asked to propose names. In
Mandarin Chinese Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language ...
the card is known as 悠遊卡 (
Pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Chinese, Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally writte ...
: Yōu-yóu Kǎ), which literally means ''Easy Travel Card''. The logo, designed by Y&P Design Group, is composed of four different colored logos radiating outward, each representing something different: technology and unhindered travel, sustainable development, commitment, and efficiency. In 2003, the EasyCard logo won the 20th American Corporate Identity Award of Excellence.


Card usage


Taipei Metro

Users of the card on the
Taipei Metro Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), branded as Metro Taipei, is a rapid transit system serving the areas of Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan, operated by the government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which also operates the Maokong Gondo ...
are required to pass the card over the EasyCard sensor area on fare gates both entering and exiting the stations; the first pass registers the start of the journey and the second as the end. Fares deducted from the card depend on the distance traveled and whether a public bus was used within a transfer time frame (currently, one hour). Beginning in 2020, travelers using an IC Card such as EasyCard on Taipei MRT trains will receive a rebate of between 10 and 30% on all Taipei MRT fares, with the discount percentage based on the number of rides taken during the month. The rebate amount is deposited onto the IC card the next time the traveler uses the card on the Taipei MRT after the end of the respective month, but the rebate must be collected within six months. Prior to the current rebate scheme, IC card users were instead given an automatic 20% discount off every published fare. The EasyCard can also be used for the
Maokong Gondola The Maokong Gondola () is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on 4 July 2007, the Maokong Gondola operates between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four passenger stations. The facilities of the gondola were contra ...
without any discounts.


Taichung MRT

The EasyCard can be used on the Taichung MRT.


Taoyuan Metro

The EasyCard are available for each station of the
Taoyuan Airport MRT Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT (Mass Rapid Transit), commonly known as the Airport MRT, is a rapid transit line of Taoyuan Metro that connects the municipalities of Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan with Taoyuan International Airport ...
. Using the card to shuttle between the three stations from A12 station ( Airport Terminal 1) to A14a station ( Airport Hotel) is free.


Kaohsiung Metro

Users of the card can use the card on the Red and Orange Lines of the Kaohsiung Metro. Fares deducted from the card depend on the distance traveled and a 15% discount over single journey tokens, which is the same as iPASS. The
Circular light rail The Circular light rail () is a light rail line in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, operated by Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation. The southern part of this line makes use of the defunct tracks of the Kaohsiung Harbor Railway Line. Construction cos ...
enabled EasyCard usage from February 2018. The EasyCard can be add-valued only at the information center of each station of Kaohsiung Metro. The add-value machines are scheduled to enable EasyCard add-value function in May 2018.


Taiwan Railway Administration

The EasyCard is available for all stations of the TRA. Passengers holding the card can take all trains of the TRA, except Taroko Express, Puyuma Express, group trains, tourism trains, and specified operating trains. There is a 10% discount if the travelling distance is less than 70km.


Buses

The EasyCard can be used on most city bus systems and several inter-city bus in Taiwan. The card might not be accepted on several routes. In Taipei, passengers using Adult cards (including co-branded credit cards and debit cards), Student cards, or Concessionaire (Welfare) cards to transfer between Metro and bus within one hour, receive an NT$8, NT$6 and NT$4 discount respectively. The EasyCard machine prevents repeated transactions on the same card until the bus travels into the next paying section. In Taichung, users can enjoy a 10-kilometer free ride.


Taxis

A trial allowing the payment of taxi fares with the card was carried out in 2005 but this payment option was not then implemented on a wider level for taxi journeys.


Parking

The EasyCard is accepted in government-run parking lots and some privately run parking lots. Parking meters accept Easy Cards exclusively, charged in quarter-hour increments, and expire in due time like a normal meter. In addition to being usable on the
Taipei Metro Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), branded as Metro Taipei, is a rapid transit system serving the areas of Taipei and New Taipei in Taiwan, operated by the government-owned Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation, which also operates the Maokong Gondo ...
and buses, the EasyCard is also accepted at public garages adjacent to Metro stations and in other areas of Taipei. As of 2008, the EasyCard can be used to pay for boat rides in areas such as
Tamsui Tamsui District (Hokkien POJ: ''Tām-chúi''; Hokkien Tâi-lô: ''Tām-tsuí''; Mandarin Pinyin: ''Dànshuǐ'') is a seaside district in New Taipei, Taiwan. It is named after the Tamsui River; the name means "fresh water". The town is popul ...
.


Designated retailers

As of 1 April 2010, EasyCards can now be used to pay for purchases at some stores including 7-Eleven,
FamilyMart is a Japanese convenience store franchise chain. It is Japan's second largest convenience store chain, behind 7-Eleven. There are now 24,574 stores worldwide in Japan, Taiwan, China, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Its ...
, Cosmed, OK Mart, Hi-Life, Starbucks, and Pacific SOGO. The EasyCard can now be used at over 10,000 retail outlets throughout Taiwan. In 2011, card usage is expected to be expanded to gas stations and fast food chains.


Other uses

In addition to payment, the EasyCard has also been used as a multifunctional card. At the 2010 World Model UN Conference held in Taipei, the card served as a ticket, meal coupon, and identification card (in addition to its regular uses). Limited edition cards have also been sold to raise money for charity.


Other areas of use

In addition to paying for public transit, parking, and select retailers, the EasyCard can also be used for: *Most buses in multiple areas in Taiwan *Ferries (Taipei Blue highway). *Admission into the
Taipei Zoo The Taipei Zoo, sometimes referred to as the "Muzha Zoo", is a public zoological garden in Wenshan District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is the most famous zoological garden in Taiwan and a leader in conservation, research and education, and recreation. ...
, and a some museums, festival activities and recreational areas. * Library cards, allowing the user to borrow materials from Taipei or Yilan Public Libraries. *Digital IDs, including Student ID Cards. *
YouBike YouBike, or Taipei Bike Sharing System, is a public bicycle sharing service offered by the Taipei City Department of Transportation in a BOT collaboration with local manufacturer Giant Bicycles. As of 26 May 2016, service stations in the bike ...
bicycle sharing A bicycle-sharing system, bike share program, public bicycle scheme, or public bike share (PBS) scheme, is a shared transport service where bicycles are available for shared use by individuals at low cost. The programmes themselves include bo ...
system. (Registration with the YouBike system with registered mobile telephone is required)


Payment and recharge

EasyCards can be used for purchases of up to NT$1,000 at available stores once, up to a maximum of NT$3,000 per day. This limit does not apply to payment of government fees, public service charges, medical costs, transport services (including recreational services like the
Maokong Gondola The Maokong Gondola () is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on 4 July 2007, the Maokong Gondola operates between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four passenger stations. The facilities of the gondola were contra ...
or bicycle rental), miscellaneous school expenses, and parking fees. Value can be recharged in multiples of NT$100 and each card can hold up to NT$10,000 of value. For consumer safety, all money from EasyCard deposits are held in the EasyCard Prepaid Trust Fund managed by
Cathay United Bank Cathay United Bank () is one of the largest commercial banks in Taiwan, with a capital value of TW$67 billion (approximately US$2.23 billion) and more than 165 branches located throughout Taiwan. It is part of Cathay Financial Holdings. History ...
. All deposits are protected by a full refund guarantee issued by the managing bank. If a card has not been used for over two years, a recharge must be made before the card will be reactivated. The balance on a card can be checked on the scanner unit whenever a transaction is made or using an EasyCard Reader located at all Taipei Metro stations.


Types of cards

*Adult: These standard fare cards cost NT$500, inclusive of a NT$400 balance and NT$100 deposit. Purchase and add-value are available at all Taipei Metro stations, bus stations, and most convenience stores. The card can be credited to a maximum of balance of NT$10,000. Unused fees and the deposit are refundable. *Student: These cards cost the same amount (NT$500), but can only be purchased from station staff with appropriate student identification. The pricing model remains the same on the Metro but is discounted on public buses at NT$12 rather than NT$15. Cardholders after October 2015 will not receive the NT$3 discount on public buses according to EasyCard Corp. Note: As of 1 May 2010, at certain convenience store chains (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart), Adult and Student cards may be purchased with NT$200 (NT$100 balance and NT$100 deposit). *Concessionaire: These cards are reserved for children (under eligible legislation), seniors over 65 years of age, and disabled persons. It offers discounts depending on the service used. *
Taipei Pass The Taipei Pass (), or the Taipei Tourism Passport, is a travel pass issued by the Traffic Bureau commissioned EasyCard Corporation in Taipei. First issued in November 2006, it is available for periods of 1, 2, 3, or 5 days. Once a pass is purchased ...
: A special-purpose card that allows for unlimited travel on the Metro and associated bus services and unlimited trips on the
Maokong Gondola The Maokong Gondola () is a gondola lift transportation system in Taipei, Taiwan. Opened on 4 July 2007, the Maokong Gondola operates between Taipei Zoo and Maokong. The line has four passenger stations. The facilities of the gondola were contra ...
. The pass is sold as a one-day, two-day, three-day, or five-day pass. It expires on midnight of the expiry date. Buses that accept the card will display a TaipeiPass identification sticker.


Debit and co-branded credit cards

Joint-branded cards allow for an EasyCard to be linked with a credit or ATM account to automatically add value. This allows for consumers to pay for products, services, or government fees with the card. The option remains popular with users in spite of handling fees and a limit of how much money can be added per day (NT$500). Auto-recharge applied to debit card to make up to 3 times of each NT$500 at all Designated retailers and value-adding machine at Metro stations


Mobile device integration

Several attempts have been made to embed EasyCard radio chips into mobile devices, enabling "transactions by phone." Users are not billed by their telecommunications accounts; rather, they can read transaction records and check balance using a supported mobile phone.


Security attacks

As the value of an EasyCard can be used for transactions of scarce services and products, security measures are important. EasyCard uses multiple encryption techniques to prevent illegal modification of values and hacking. At the 27th annual German
Chaos Communication Congress The Chaos Communication Congress is an annual conference organized by the Chaos Computer Club. The congress features a variety of lectures and workshops on technical and political issues related to security, cryptography, privacy and online ...
hacker conference ("27C3") in 2010, German
free software Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...
programmer
Harald Welte Harald Welte, also known as LaForge, is a German programmer. Welte is the founder of the free software project Osmocom and was formerly involved in the netfilter/iptables and Openmoko projects. He is a member of the Chaos Computer Club. Bi ...
showed that it is possible to artificially change the amount of money stored on a first-generation EasyCard —based on the MIFARE Classic chip— using nothing more than a
USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard that establishes specifications for cables, connectors and protocols for connection, communication and power supply (interfacing) between computers, peripherals and other computers. A broad ...
RFID reader and a
laptop computer A laptop, laptop computer, or notebook computer is a small, portable personal computer (PC) with a screen and alphanumeric keyboard. Laptops typically have a clam shell form factor with the screen mounted on the inside of the upper li ...
running
open source software Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study, change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any purpose. Open ...
. Welte denounced the system for its poor choice of cipher and lack of user authentication. He was able to map out and manipulate the card's internal format in 2 days on a trip in Taiwan. However, hacking the EasyCard remains illegal, and in September 2011 a 24-year-old engineer was arrested on suspicion of fraudulently using a hacked EasyCard. EasyCard has since addressed several of the weaknesses in later card hardware revisions but remains vulnerable to several known attacks on the cryptography of MIFARE Classic that cannot be addressed without breaking backwards compatibility to existing infrastructure.


Reception

The EasyCard has been very popular since its launch in 2002. By 2010, over 23 million cards had been issued.(The source did not say what cards have returned as subpriced) By 2014, more than 50 million cards have been issued. Critics have called for stronger measures to promote name registration of EasyCards in order to protect consumer rights. Over NT$600 million is lost yearly in lost cards. As of 2009, fewer than 0.02% of cards had been registered.


External links


Official homepage of the EasyCard Corporation


References

{{Taiwan rapid transit Contactless smart cards Taipei Metro Fare collection systems in Taiwan Products introduced in 2002 2000 establishments in Taiwan