Dozens of new electric bus routes for Ho Chi Minh City

The Vietnamese city has gained 27 new electric bus routes this month as well as 443 new electric buses. That means that around one in four vehicles in the city's bus fleet now runs on electricity. City authorities have called it a major step towards improving public transport quality.

The city began to roll out the buses last week on Friday, August 1st. This means that over 26 per cent of the city’s public transport fleet is now electric, with a total of 613 electric buses in operation. These are combined with roughly 500 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, meaning that almost half of Ho Chi Minh’s public transport fleet uses alternative fuel sources. The city says it’s now aiming for 100 per cent green energy-powered buses by 2030.

As for the new electric buses, these are operated by Phuong Trang – FUTA Bus Lines. They feature capacities of between 30 and 60 seats as well as standard technical features such as GPS, onboard cameras, free wifi, automated announcements, and contactless payment. The city has also said that children under 1.3m in height will travel for free, as will disabled people, war veterans, injured soldiers, and senior citizens.

The nearly 450 units consist of the B30-EV and B60-EV models from local manufacturer Kim Long Motor, which, in addition to the electric models, has also delivered 200 new diesel buses to the city’s public transport operator.

Nguyễn Vĩnh Toàn, deputy director of the Department of Construction, said that a network of charging stations has also been set up to ensure consistent service, and that the expansion will greatly improve transport quality and reduce emissions. He added: “This marks a major step in the city’s gradual transition to green energy in public transport.”

The move is all part of a broader national strategy in Vietnam to decarbonise transport. Under a government roadmap, all public buses are expected to run on ‘clean’ energy by 2030, while Ho Chi Minh City itself is also developing financial incentives for EV purchases. This includes buy-back schemes for old vehicles as well as subsidies for new purchases. However, the country still lacks sufficient charging infrastructure and continues to face challenges with its national grid, which suffers regular outages and is still dependent on coal.

vietnamnews.vn, vnexpress.net, kimlongmotor.com.vn (in Vietnamese)