HCMC expects to have more than 3,600 electric buses by 2030
The Ho Chi Minh City bus system has 176 routes, of which 108 are subsidized, with a total of 2,386 vehicles. There are currently 627 electric buses (26.3%) and 451 CNG buses (17.9%).
In the period of 2025 - 2030, the city will convert and invest in 3,011 electric and green energy buses (replacing 1,537 existing vehicles and investing in 1,474 new vehicles).
All buses using compressed natural gas (CNG) will now have to switch to electric or green energy buses because they are no longer classified as clean energy vehicles.
In addition to 627 electric buses in operation, by 2030, Ho Chi Minh City plans to have more than 3,600 electric buses.
To support businesses to invest, the city proposes to support a maximum interest rate of 85% of loan capital, not exceeding VND300 billion per project (excluding deducted VAT).
The investor only pays 3%/year; the difference will be spent by the city budget, the maximum support period is 7 years. The total support budget for the period 2025 - 2030 is estimated at about 1,237 billion VND.
Converting 400,000 technology gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles
Ho Chi Minh City is completing a project to convert gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles for about 400,000 technology drivers and delivery.
From 2026, the city plans not to allow drivers to use gasoline vehicles to register newly on transportation platforms. The existing driver will have 3 years (2026 - 2028) to gradually switch to electric vehicles.
The key solution is to lend drivers to pay installments for electric vehicles by "taking advantage of fuel savings to gradually pay", an average of about 1 million VND/month. In addition, the city proposes to exempt registration fees, exempt value-added tax when purchasing electric vehicles and implement preferential loan packages.
Ho Chi Minh City expects to replace 30% of the current technology vehicles and delivery by electric vehicles in 2026; by the end of 2027, it will reach 80%; the rest will be converted in 2028.
From January 1, 2029, Ho Chi Minh City plans to completely ban two-wheeled gasoline vehicles from participating in transportation and delivery services on all platforms.
Converting all civil servant motorbikes to electricity by 2030
According to the plan, from 2026, cars of state agencies when replaced or newly invested will have to use electricity or green energy. By 2030, all cars belonging to state agencies must switch to electric vehicles, green energy.
Ho Chi Minh City also aims to have at least 50% of gasoline motorbikes of civil servants and public employees converted to electricity by 2027 and achieve 100% by 2030.
According to Dr. Tran Quang Thang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Economics and Management, the city's early conversion of public vehicles and motorbikes of civil servants and public employees to electric vehicles is of great significance: The public sector is at the forefront of creating confidence and motivation for people to follow.
When officials use electric vehicles every day, the government shows real determination in green transformation, proving that this policy is not only " say goodbye" but is completely feasible.
The image of electric vehicles appearing in front of the agency's headquarters and on the street will create a strong spillover effect, contributing to eliminating people's concerns about cost, durability or charging infrastructure.
"This is a reasonable step, both setting an example and creating a foundation for the remaining vehicle groups to transform more smoothly in the coming years" - Mr. Thang said.
