HCMC plans first quarter launch of electric bus lines

Le Hoa Binh, deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, approved the trial project Monday following a proposal by the Department of Transport.

During the trial, the city would apply the same ticket price range for the new service as it does for buses using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) - VND3,000 (13 cents) per ride for students, and between VND5,000 and VND7,000 for other passengers.

The five electric bus lines that will be launched are: VB01 between Vinhomes Grand Park in Thu Duc City and Emart mall in Go Vap District; VB02 between Vinhomes Grand Park and Tan Son Nhat Airport; VN03 between Vinhomes Grand Park and Saigon Bus Station in District 1; VN04 between Vinhomes Grand Park and New Mien Dong Station in Thu Duc; and VB05 between Vinhomes Grand Park, New Mien Dong Station and Vietnam National University Urban Area.

There will be 77 buses in total, each with a capacity of 65-70 including standees. They would operate 5-21 hours a day.

The electric buses would use existing bus stops to take on passengers, plus some other locations to make the service more accessible.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has 126 bus lines. It has already trialed electric buses with less than 15 seats in downtown areas and Can Gio District.

Hanoi launched its first electric bus service in December last year on three lines, with a bus coming every 10-15 minutes.