How are gasoline motorcycles converted to electric?

The HCMC Department of Construction has called on the Vietnam Register to develop regulations and standards for converting gasoline motorcycles into EVs. The department sees this as a step toward achieving the country’s green energy transition goals and reducing vehicle emissions.

Nguyen Thach Lan, CEO of Motorcycles TV, said the conversion would "help people avoid the immediate cost of buying a new motorcycle... and minimize industrial waste from discarded vehicles." The hybrid system is created by adding an electric motor, a battery and an electrical converter, he said. It converts kinetic energy from braking into electrical power and feeds it into the motor. It does not interfere with the original engine’s power, but simply adds an electric motor to either the front or rear wheel, he said. The converter and battery are housed in the motorcycle’s storage compartment.

A hybrid motorcycle can travel around 150 kilometers at a cost of VND23,000 (US$0.87), half the cost of a gasoline-only vehicle. "The installation cost is expected to be under VND10 million, around 50% of the cost of a new electric motorcycle."

Commuters drive motorbikes and eletric bikes at a red light in Hanoi, October 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Quan

Le Ngoc Chung, a mechanical engineering specialist at Saigon Polytechnic College, supported the idea of utilizing old motorcycles for energy conversion to save on the cost of new vehicles. But he admitted there are several challenges though the conversion is feasible from a technical standpoint. Post-conversion inspection would be complex, he pointed out. With millions of motorcycles around, each with varying designs and ages, establishing uniform safety, technical and environmental standards would be difficult, he said.

"For instance, Honda alone has numerous motorcycle models, making it challenging to apply a single set of standards for all."

He also pointed out the need for a robust inspection system with adequate personnel to ensure safety. This process could be costly, and the lack of a legal framework for motorcycle inspections might create additional hurdles, he warned. He suggested starting with a pilot program and certain motorcycles.

Professor Pham Xuan Mai, a former head of the traffic engineering department at the University of Science and Technology in HCMC, said the hybrid conversion approach "is not a long-term solution," given the government’s push for public transportation and restrictions on private vehicles.

He also warned against altering gasoline motorcycles without the approval or guidance of manufacturers, who have specific safety standards for their original design. Several companies, including Yamaha and Honda, have developed hybrid motorcycles, but they have not become popular due to high prices and technical complexity, he said.

He wanted conversion initiatives to be considered within the broader context of policies promoting electric transportation and environmental sustainability.

Nguyen To An, deputy director of the Vietnam Register, emphasized the need for rigorous safety standards for the conversion and stringent fire safety requirements for vehicles running on both gasoline and electricity since they would have both a fuel tank and an electric battery.

All conversions must go through several stages like feasibility assessments, practical tests and comparison with international norms before national technical standards are rolled out. "It must meet the highest safety standards and align with infrastructure like charging stations."

HCMC, which has nearly 11 million motorcycles, the highest number in Vietnam, sees around 85% of them on the road daily.

Under a vehicle emission control plan, by 2026 the city is set to demarcate zones in downtown areas, Can Gio District and Con Dao Island where substandard gasoline and diesel vehicles cannot enter.

In the initial phase the ban will apply to commercial and ride-hailing vehicles. It also includes a proposal to convert some 400,000 gasoline motorbikes into electric for app-based taxi drivers.