Ho Chi Minh City, July 30, 2024 - The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) organized a workshop on converting vehicles using green and electric energy for public passenger transport activities. The workshop aimed to share research results and discuss proposed policies, roadmaps, and solutions to promote the development of public passenger transport using electricity and green energy in Ho Chi Minh City.

To realize the commitment to zero net emissions by 2050 in the transport sector, according to Decision 876 QD-TTg dated July 22, 2022, major cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, need to ensure a roadmap for energy conversion in public passenger transport, accordingly, from 2025, 100% of urban buses will be replaced or newly invested in using electricity and green energy; from 2030, 100% of taxis will be replaced or freshly invested in using electricity and green energy. However, to achieve this goal, the city needs to fully prepare the institutional policy framework and implementation resources and activate and mobilize the participation of the private sector based on recommendations from research and scientists.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Le Van Nghia (Hanoi University of Science and Technology) provided impressive data on reducing CO2 emissions from more than 7,984 tons to only about 4,077 tons per day through converting diesel buses to electric power. He emphasized that this conversion helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improves urban air quality.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Mai (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology) also shared the advantages of electric buses compared to buses using compressed natural gas (CNG) in reducing environmental pollution and affirmed that electric buses are increasingly popular thanks to technological advances and support policies from the State.

Mr. Pham Vuong Bao, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center, announced that the city currently has 2,209 buses, of which 546 use green energy. According to the plan, from now until 2025, all new buses will switch to using electricity and green energy. He emphasized, "With the opening of 72 new bus routes from now until 2030, the City's goal is not only to replace but also expand the green bus fleet, aiming for 100% of buses in Ho Chi Minh City to use green energy by 2030."

The representative of Saigon Bus Company also shared the Enterprise's concerns about the development planning and provision of charging station infrastructure suitable for the characteristics and operating route of electric buses to ensure sufficient energy supply for electric bus operation.

Mr. Tran Quang Lam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, also shared about the city's efforts in developing infrastructure to support electric vehicles, including planning investment and constructing electric charging stations to meet the growing demand for electric buses.

Finally, Mr. Vu Thai Truong, Officer-in-Charge of Climate Change, Environment and Energy Unit, UNDP in Viet Nam, emphasized the strong commitment of the Government of Viet Nam to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as agreed at COP26. Mr. Truong expressed: "Ho Chi Minh City is not only an economic hub but also a model for green transport development in Viet Nam. UNDP will continue to accompany Ho Chi Minh City in supporting the transition to using electricity and clean energy for public transport activities in the area towards a sustainable future for all city residents".

This workshop on converting vehicles to use green energy and electric energy for public passenger transport activities in Ho Chi Minh City is one of the activities contributing to developing the Energy Conversion Project for Ho Chi Minh City's transport activities.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Phan Huong Giang
CCE Media and Communications Analyst, UNDP Viet Nam
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org
Tel: 0948466688