Gradually Adapting to Electric Vehicles

Recently, the electric vehicle market in Vietnam has made strong strides, gradually greening the streets, opening up a new era of environmentally friendly and cost-saving transportation. From electric motorbikes for students to electric cars for families, the trend of shifting from fossil fuels to electricity is spreading strongly, especially in large cities and dynamic economic areas such as Dong Nai.

Visitors check out various electric vehicle models to find the one that best suits their needs. Photo: Le Duy Phu

Greening the streets

On July 12, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 20/CT-TTg on a number of urgent and drastic tasks to prevent and resolve environmental pollution. Accordingly, from July 1, 2026, Hanoi will officially ban motorbikes using fossil fuels from circulating in the beltway 1 area. This is a drastic step to reduce polluting emissions and promote the transition to green means of transport. From that policy, many people in other provinces and cities, including Dong Nai, have proactively changed their consumption habits.

Phung An Huy (a resident of Tran Bien Ward) said he and his wife have switched to using electric motorbikes for more than a year. At first, he was also worried about the durability and travel distance, but after using it, he found that the motorbike runs smoothly and saves a lot of money. He believes that changing habits early not only helps families save money, but aligns with future trends.

Phan Nhat Ha (a resident of Tam Hiep Ward) shared: Since switching to using electric motorbikes, my family's transportation costs have decreased significantly, especially on fuel and maintenance. Before, I had to refuel 2-3 times a week, each time costing hundreds of thousands of VND, not to mention the old motorbike, which often broke down when it rained and required a lot of effort to repair. Since switching to electric motorbikes, going to the market every morning or taking my children to school has become easier, a full charge can last for several days, and there is no need to spend money on oil changes or miscellaneous repairs. Not only helping families reduce the burden of living expenses, electric motorbikes are also becoming a popular choice for many technology drivers. From inner-city roads to alleys, the image of technology drivers riding electric motorbikes is becoming more and more familiar.

Tran Hoang Huy Dung (a resident of Tam Hiep Ward), an e-hailing driver, shared: “I switched from being a traditional ride-hailing to an e-hailing driver using a Green SM electric vehicle nearly half a year ago. The initial cost was supported, the rental price was only half that of a gasoline-powered motorbike. After that, I found it really economical so I decided to stick with it. The motorbike runs smoothly, does not need to change the oil, and charging is much cheaper than gasoline. I can work as an e-hailing driver, take my children to school, and my wife to the market. One motorbike does all the work, and it really eases my expenses.

It can be seen that electric motorbikes are not only present in households, but are gradually becoming an effective means of livelihood for workers. From the streets to technology parking lots, electric motorbikes are increasingly appearing densely, clearly reflecting the trend of green and sustainable consumption in urban life.

Multiple supportive policies

Currently, in order to access green transportation, people do not necessarily have to own an electric vehicle but can completely experience it through convenient car rental and battery charging platforms. Some applications such as "My Honda+" have launched electric car rental services to help users easily access new car models without having to spend a large initial cost. This is considered a suitable solution for young people, freelancers or those who want to experience before deciding to invest long-term.

Nguyen Van Quang (living in Trang Dai Ward), working in Ho Chi Minh City, said: "I chose to rent an electric car to go to work every day with a distance of about 35km each way. Before, I used a gasoline-powered car, spending about 150-200 thousand VND per week on gasoline, plus the cost of changing oil and maintenance services each month with a total cost of nearly 1 million VND. Now switching to an electric car, I rent a package from Honda for 1.5 million VND/month, including the car, battery and charger".

According to Quang, although the rental price is a bit higher than the cost of gasoline, overall, it is more economical, because there is no need for maintenance, changing oil, tires or minor vehicle breakdowns. More importantly, the electric car runs smoothly without the smell of gasoline, the engine does not overheat that is suitable for those who travel far every day like him.

Nguyen Tiên Thanh, a vehicle testing engineer at VinFast, said: “Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly refined, but there are still some limitations, such as longer charging time compared to refueling and the lack of widespread charging stations, especially in suburban and rural areas.”

Nguyen Tiên Thanh, a vehicle testing engineer at VinFast, cautioned that users should not modify or replace batteries of unknown origin, as this can compromise the safety of the system and increase the risk of short circuits or fires - especially in hot weather or when charging improperly. He advised using only genuine batteries and following the correct charging instructions. Unauthorized tampering with the battery, he warned, can endanger not only the user but also the wider community.

“The battery is the most important and sensitive component of an electric vehicle. During the testing process, we always prioritize the highest safety standards. Genuine vehicles are designed with an intelligent battery management system to control temperature and voltage, preventing overloads or short circuits,” Thanh added.

By: Le Duy
Translated by: Thu Cuc - Thu Ha