100 CNG buses belonging to Saigon Transport Mechanical Corporation Limited (Samco) are 100% new, each worth 2-3 billion VND.
100 buses using CNG natural gas compressors have been "covered" since their launch in 2018. The reason for the "overwhelm" is the lack of CNG fuel stations, supply exceeding demand and adjustments in Samco's business plan.
When investing in CNG buses, Samco does not consider CNG fuel filling stations, does not consider supply and demand. Not a few excess units, but up to 100 units, the calculation is too big a mistake.
To have 100 cars backlogged for the past 7 years, it is impossible not to mention the responsibility of Samco's leadership.
According to the action program to implement the roadmap for green vehicle conversion approved by the Prime Minister, from 2025, all newly invested or replacement buses in large cities must use electricity or green energy. Meanwhile, vehicles powered by natural gas (CNG) are only classified as environmentally friendly vehicles, and do not meet green fuel standards according to new regulations.
To date, Samco has not had any plan to handle these buses.
After merging 3 localities, Ho Chi Minh City has 164 routes with 2,342 buses in operation. Of which, 47 electric bus routes (613 vehicles) and 18 CNG bus routes (542 vehicles) account for nearly 50% of all vehicles using electricity and clean fuel.
There are also opinions suggesting a conversion plan.
According to Mr. Bui Hoa An - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, it is possible to study the connection of the switch to using hydrogen energy. Although the cost of hydrogen production is still high, the efficiency is superior to gasoline and diesel vehicles. In Malaysia, a 9-seat bus only needs 1 kg of hydrogen to travel 100 km (the equivalent cost of 1 liter of gasoline and oil) while a gasoline-powered bus consumes more than 10 liters for the same distance.
Abandoning additional costs for conversion and putting the vehicle into operation is still more beneficial than leaving it unused.
In any case, we must convert and exploit these 100 buses, not leaving hundreds of billions to "cover the covers" which is very wasteful.
