Many support policies, drivers support "both hands"
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS), the conversion project is being finalized, with a detailed roadmap to be announced in July. The focus is on technology drivers, delivery vehicles - a force that regularly moves, has high emissions and uses motorbikes as a means of daily livelihood.
It is expected that Ho Chi Minh City will implement support policies such as: Exemption from registration fees, issuance of license plates, first-time vehicle registration certificates (about 3 million VND/vehicle); supporting electric vehicle purchase interest rates at least 2% through Resolution 198 on a number of special mechanisms and policies for private economic development; purchasing used vehicles that have expired or do not meet emission standards; refunding VAT for each trip of electric vehicles, helping drivers significantly save operating costs.
In particular, Ho Chi Minh City is coordinating with the CEP microfinance Corporation and a number of banks to design electric vehicle purchase loan packages for a term of 24-30 months. The monthly installment is calculated equivalent to the amount of savings from not having to buy gasoline.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thang - a technology driver in Ho Chi Minh City - shared: "I really like electric cars because they save costs, and are not affected by increased gasoline prices. If I get additional support in terms of costs, it would be great.
Currently, Mr. Thang spends nearly a hundred thousand VND per day on gas. He consulted many drivers who have switched to electric vehicles and calculated that the electric charging fee when switching is only 1/5 of the current cost. "If we save more, now we are supported with more loans or free vehicle registration, I think drivers will convert very quickly" - Mr. Thang affirmed.
Mr. Le Minh Hieu - a technology driver in District 3 - also said that he "supports both hands" with green transformation.
Many customers are currently supportive of green vehicles, they want vehicles to run without fuel, no noise, no vibration. The number of vehicles with brick and fat fat stations was immediately criticized. Electric vehicles are smooth, customers are satisfied, and I feel more confident when going to work" - he said.
Mr. Le Thanh Hai - Director of the Center for Applied Economic Consulting (HCMC Institute for Development Studies) - said that a survey with more than 400 drivers showed that they run an average of 80 - 120km per day, spending 70,000 - 100,000 VND on fuel. Due to traveling a lot during rush hour, traffic jams, heavy transportation... their fuel consumption is 20 - 40% higher than normal. Meanwhile, if using an electric vehicle, the cost is only about 20,000 VND/day. On average, drivers can save from 1 - 2 million VND per month.
"The problem is how to make drivers not feel burdened when changing vehicles. If you know how to take advantage of your savings from gasoline, drivers can completely pay for new vehicles without having to pay additional initial investment costs" - Mr. Le Thanh Hai emphasized.
Ho Chi Minh City also plans to invest in building charging stations, rest stops, and backup battery charging systems at strategic locations, prioritizing the use of renewable energy. These infrastructure investors will also have access to preferential loan policies to speed up the implementation progress.
Towards a green, clean, smart urban area
According to Dr. Tran Quang Thang - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Economics and Management - converting 400,000 gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles is a necessary step: "Technology drivers are a dense, highly emission-rich force, if successful conversion, it will create a great positive effect on the environment and consumption habits".
According to Mr. Thang, VinFast and the SM Green Ecosystem are already deploying electric motorbikes in many provinces and cities. This is an important foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to accelerate the conversion of personal vehicles.
Not only stopping at motorbikes, Ho Chi Minh City also aims to have 100% of buses use clean energy by 2030. Currently, the city has about 2,200 buses, of which about 31% have switched to electricity or CNG.
The electric motorbike conversion project is part of the city's emission control program, while contributing to the realization of the national commitment to reduce at least 9% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Ho Chi Minh City is also promoting the registration of carbon credit sales, opening new financial sources to serve environmental initiatives.
