EV-friendly coffee shops give delivery drivers a place to recharge and relax in HCMC

It also has hammocks for tired drivers to take a quick nap. It is affordable, with EV charging costing VND8,000-16,000 (US$0.3-0.6), beverages priced at VND17,000-20,000 and instant noodles a mere VND5,000. The hammocks, phone charging, showers, and restrooms are all free.

It has become the regular lunchtime pit stop for over a month for ride-hailing driver Quoc Bao, 53, to grab a bite, rest and charge his electric motorbike. He lives in Binh Duong and commutes daily to HCMC. Three months ago he switched to an electric bike and struggled to find a place that allowed EV recharging.

He discovered this coffee shop in June and decided to give it a try. "It fits the budget of ride-hailing drivers," he says. "I no longer have to drive around looking for an electric socket."

The charging area can accommodate up to 26 vehicles. A full charge takes around three hours and drivers take turns charging their bikes while resting in the hammocks.

Midday at a coffee shop that doubles as a charging station, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, July 22. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Ngan

This business model emerged around mid-2024 in HCMC and has gained traction in recent months. There are now some 20 such cafes across the city.

They mainly attracts ride-hailing and delivery drivers. Some of them also repair and maintain electric motorbikes.

Tran Anh Thanh, 30, founder of the 3T coffee shop-charging station chain in HCMC, came up with the idea in April 2024 after seeing the demand on the ground.

When he opened his first place, it received 70 to 100 customers daily. He opened four more cafes and saw customer traffic rise by 30-40 percent over fourteen months. A sixth branch is coming in the near future.

Each cafe typically offers 15-20 charging spots and also a monthly package for VND650,000 that includes overnight parking and charging. Soon Thanh plans to launch at-home vehicle charging and delivery services for customers within a seven-kilometer radius.

Drivers gravitate toward such places because their low-priced rental homes lack the facilities to charge EVs. All 3T locations are equipped with technicians, power systems, fire safety measures, and emergency response setups.

HCMC plans to convert all 400,000 ride-hailing motorbikes to EVs in the next three years. Two-wheelers used for transport, food delivery and parcel services are a common sight in the city. Xanh SM currently fronts the initiative with an all-electric fleet, while other platforms allow drivers to choose between gasoline and electric bikes.

A driver charging his bike at the coffee shop on Phan Van Tri Street, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, at noon on July 22. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Ngan

Van Anh, 34, hails the hybrid charging station model in HCMC as perfect for women drivers. She often requires affordable locations to rest during her 12- to 14-hour workday, but most coffee shops discourage long stays. So for six days a week she stops by a charging cafe on National Highway 13 in Thu Duc City to relax, change clothes and prepare for the night shift.

"These stops really take the pressure off."