According to a study conducted by the Institute for Development Studies, up to 80% of Ho Chi Minh City’s motorcycle ride-hailing vehicles could potentially transition to electric models within two years, provided there are appropriate supportive policies and enhancements in infrastructure.
The goal of having
400,000 electric ride-hailing motorbikes
The objectives within the urban area could be met through financial assistance, waivers on registration fees and value-added tax, along with the installation of more charging stations, according to Le Thanh Hai, who serves as a director at the Institute for Development Studies.
Hai mentioned that the shift is expected to decrease costs for motorists and enhance Ho Chi Minh City’s environmental conditions, as stated in a recent research conducted by the institute.
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According to Hai,Grab and Be motorcycle taxi drivers in Ho Chi Minh City are spending between VND70,000 and VND100,000 ($USD) daily on fuel, as indicated by a survey involving 400 respondents.
Meanwhile, Xanh SM electric motorcycle riders only pay VND20,000 for charging.
Following battery degradation, after accounting for wait times and charging expenses, e-bike riders stand to gain an additional VND40,000–60,000 daily, equating to roughly VND1 million per month, over those using gas-powered bikes.
These savings allow electric vehicle owners to pay off their loans within 2–2.5 years.
He noted that since ride-hailing drivers contribute substantially to emissions in the city, switching their vehicles from gas-powered to electric would enhance the urban environment.
A significant hurdle, nonetheless, lies in the charging infrastructure.
Brands such as VinFast, Selex Motors, DatBike, and Honda offer electric motorcycles that take between 4 to 10 hours to recharge fully. These bikes generally provide a driving distance of 100 to 200 kilometers for an average user.
This indicates that a driver must recharge at least once daily, but during this period, they won’t generate any income.
“Charging electric vehicles could eliminate infrastructure barriers if it were as swift as filling up with gasoline,” said Nguyen Huu Phuoc Nguyen, the founder and CEO of electric scooter company Selex Motors.
Selex provides a quick two-minute battery swap service that works with various brands, currently operating at 50 locations in Ho Chi Minh City with intentions to increase this number to 200 within the coming year.
Nguyen also pointed out that the absence of standardized charging infrastructure continues to be a problem, as businesses operate separately from one another.
He encouraged local officials to motivate companies to develop more shared charging and battery-switching infrastructures, aiming for an equitable market environment and promoting overall development.
Economic obstacles also impede the shift, since tech promoters frequently possess meager and inconsistent earnings.
The Institute for Development Studies has joined forces with various banks to create customized credit options. Additionally, they have obtained special agreements from both producers and sellers of electric motorcycles.
The municipality has suggested that the national government exempt new electric vehicle owners and tech-driven operators from paying registration fees and value-added tax for an initial period of two years.
Vietnam’s transport industry releases approximately 32.9 million tons of CO2 equivalents each year, with Ho Chi Minh City being responsible for about 13 million tons of this total.
In an effort to support environmentally friendly transit, the municipality intends to transform all buses into electric or eco-friendly models by the year 2030.
Moreover, an initiative called the Vehicle Emissions Control Plan is underway, concentrating on providing incentives and outlining transitional pathways specifically for taxis, electric vehicles, personal automobiles, as well as those utilized by governmental entities and corporate organizations.
