On March 23, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction said that the city has announced 337 locations with a total of 881 battery exchange cabinets on sidewalks, distributed from the central area to major traffic axes and crowded residential areas.
The goal is that by April 30, 2026, about 3,000 cabinets will be licensed for installation, and by the end of 2026, this number is expected to increase to 20,000 cabinets.
According to the Department of Construction, the battery exchange cabinet model helps significantly shorten the energy charging time compared to traditional charging, while reducing pressure on the centralized charging station system in apartments and residential areas.
The cost of each battery exchange is about 8,000 VND, which is considered suitable, contributing to encouraging people to switch to electric vehicles.
To ensure synchronous deployment, the Department of Construction coordinates with relevant units such as the Department of Industry and Trade, the electricity sector and the fire prevention and fighting force to appraise and approve the installation location according to strict criteria.
Battery exchange cabinets must have appropriate dimensions (about 1.8 m high, 60 cm wide), do not encroach on sidewalks, do not affect pedestrians, and do not block the entrances and exits of people's houses and agencies.
The list of installation locations is publicly and transparently announced, creating conditions for many qualified businesses to participate, avoiding monopoly.
The Traffic Management and Technical Infrastructure Center (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction) is assigned to continue reviewing and proposing additional suitable locations, ensuring harmony between energy infrastructure development and traffic safety and urban aesthetic requirements.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction is presiding over the development of a project to convert two-wheeled vehicles from gasoline to electric vehicles, initially by 2028 to reach about 400,000 electric two-wheeled vehicles serving passenger and cargo transportation.
It is forecasted that by 2030, Ho Chi Minh City will have about 1.2 million electric motorbikes, leading to a demand for more than 25,000 public charging pillars and battery exchange cabinets.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, the trend of switching to using electric motorbikes is increasingly clear. In particular, the fluctuations in the Middle East region in recent times have caused unstable gasoline and oil prices, directly affecting travel costs, and prompting many people to choose electric vehicles as an economical and environmentally friendly solution.
The installation of electric motorbike battery exchange cabinets on sidewalks is urgent, meeting the needs of people and in line with the trend of developing green transportation in Ho Chi Minh City.
