HCM City has proposed five new electric-bus routes. Most city buses run on diesel fuel or compressed natural gas. (Photo: VNA) The move is in line with the city’s drive to reduce air pollution, diversifymeans of green public transport, and upgrade service quality, theDepartment of Transport said.
The department added that it sought advice from the Department ofConstruction, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, andPeople's Committee of District 9.
The five routes will connect Vingroup's Vinhome Grand Park in District 9 toimportant destinations, including the Korean E-mart supermarket in Go Vapdistrict, Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Sai Gon Bus Station in District1, the new Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in District 9, and the Vietnam NationalUniversity-HCM City campus in Thu Duc district.
The investor will add nine new bus stops on the five routes. A depot and abus station covering 12,200sq.m will be built in the Vinhome GrandPark urban area.
A total of 77 eco-friendly electric vehicles will be put into use during thetrial run.
Each 65-70 seat bus, running on fast-charging lithium ionbatteries, will cost about 6.5 billion VND (280,000 USD).
Vingroup has asked the city for a subsidy equal to 44.1 percent of operatingexpenses, which is the same as that of compressed natural gas-fuelled anddiesel-burning vehicles.
The subsidy will be provided for a maximum of 12 months.
The subsidised fare is 5,000 - 7,000 VND (0.22 – 0.3 USD) per trip. Astudent ticket is 3,000 VND (0.13 USD) per trip.
In October 2020, Vingroup received approval from the Ministry of Transport toimplement its electric bus scheme in Hanoi and HCM City.
Nguyen Thi Thanh My, deputy director of the city's Department of NaturalResources and Environment, said that environmental programmes since 2016have reduced 70 percent of the total volume of emissionsfrom transport.
Bui Hoa An, deputy director of the city's Department of Transport, said thedepartment has worked with many transport enterprises to replace old pollutingbuses and has put 1,680 new buses into use on 52 streets.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, HCMCity has one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions in thecountry, producing 38.5 million of tonnes of CO2.This accounts for nearly 16 percent of the country’s total emissions.Of this, emissions from vehicles account for 45 percent./.
VNA
