(HNMO) - After more than 1 year of operation in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province), Vinbus electric buses have served nearly 32 million passengers. It is estimated that the amount of CO2 emissions reduced into the environment is about 19,938 tons. However, the development of this environmentally friendly form of public passenger transport still faces many barriers...
Initial results
According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Nhat, General Director of Vinbus, Vinbus - a subsidiary of Vingroup Corporation is the first enterprise to deploy electric bus service in Vietnam.
Officially joining the capital's public passenger transport network on December 2, 2021 with route E03 (Ocean Park Urban Area - My Dinh Bus Station), up to now, after more than 1 year, Vinbus has had 9 electric bus routes with 153 vehicles operating daily.
After Hanoi, Vinbus has deployed electric buses in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province) and Ho Chi Minh City. To date, the unit has carried out more than 756,550 trips, serving nearly 32 million passengers. The amount of CO2 emissions reduced into the environment is estimated at about 19,938 tons.
“Electric bus routes are widely supported by the public and highly appreciated for their service quality. Every quarter, Vinbus conducts a customer satisfaction survey. In the latest survey (first quarter of 2023), 90% of surveyed customers rated the service quality 9 or 10. Passenger volume has continuously increased over the months, with some routes rising to the top of the capital's bus network. In particular, routes E01 and E03 ranked 1st and 3rd in the entire network in terms of average passenger volume per trip. Notably, 85% of passengers are office workers, while this rate on regular bus routes is only 20-25%,” Mr. Nhat informed.
Regarding infrastructure, in Hanoi, Vinbus has 2 depots, with synchronous and modern equipment investment. Of which, the depot in Ocean Park Urban Area (Gia Lam District) has a total area of 10,000m2 , with a parking capacity of 110 vehicles. The depot in Smart City Urban Area (Nam Tu Liem District) has a total area of 23,000m2 , with a parking capacity of 160 vehicles.
To ensure stable and safe operation of electric buses, the depot uses a 24kV medium voltage power source. Each bus takes 3-6 hours to fully charge after a day of operation and can run 250-280km/full charge.
Applying modern, smart technology, the electric bus is not only environmentally friendly, but also improves traffic safety through a camera system, GPS positioning and direct interaction between the control center and the driver. The electronic ticket card connects to 18 banks...
Spirit of companionship with businesses
According to the Chief Inspector of the Hanoi Department of Transport, Tran Nhat Quang, electric buses strictly comply with the Road Traffic Law as well as transport regulations. Up to now, the Department Inspector has not had to draw up any administrative penalty records related to the operation of electric buses.
Regarding electric buses, Deputy Director of the Hanoi City Public Transport Management Center Thai Ho Phuong said that the application of technology not only meets the management and service provision requirements of businesses but also helps state management agencies control, accept trips, and monitor quality publicly and transparently.
Providing more information about the operation of electric buses, Vinbus General Director Nguyen Cong Nhat said that the investment cost for vehicles is about 7.4 billion VND/vehicle, 3-3.5 times higher than that of diesel buses, while there is no support policy so businesses have to bear high bank loan interest costs, equivalent to vehicle depreciation costs. If businesses do not have enough financial resources, it will be difficult to maintain.
From there, Vinbus proposed that the Hanoi Department of Transport soon issue a standard price for electric buses; advise the city to have a policy to support loan interest rates for businesses using clean energy according to Resolution No. 07/NQ-HDND of Hanoi City.
Regarding the policy of converting to green energy in public passenger transport by bus, Director of the Hanoi Department of Transport Nguyen Phi Thuong said that the city is reviewing and planning the bus network, with the goal of increasing the rate of people using public passenger transport services. The green energy conversion roadmap will closely follow this plan and Hanoi's electricity plan.
The conversion must ensure feasibility and have a roadmap for businesses to prepare. The State accompanies businesses, has appropriate mechanisms and policies, supports and removes obstacles for businesses.
“In 2023, the Department will complete the draft on unit prices and norms for electric buses and report to the City People's Committee for consideration and approval for implementation in 2024. The unit price must ensure accuracy and completeness, not cause loss of state budget, and not eliminate the ability of enterprises to participate,” said Mr. Nguyen Phi Thuong.
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