Switching from Gasoline to Electric Cars: The Way to Solve Your Worry

Electric cars need charging stations

According to a survey and in-depth interview conducted by Cho Tot Xe and KPMG in 2024, 44% of people want to charge their two-wheeled vehicles at home; 21% want to charge at dedicated charging stations; 35% want to charge anywhere, as long as there is a charging station. Consumers want more charging stations in 3 locations: residential areas; shopping centers and workplaces.

That leads to the question of many people: "Without convenient charging places, why buy an electric car"?

According to the survey, the most important factor affecting the success of a charging station system is the ability to charge quickly with 3.65 points. Meanwhile, the time users accept to wait to charge a two-wheeled vehicle from 15-30 minutes accounts for the highest percentage with 38%, the maximum waiting time is 15 minutes is 28%; accepting to wait over 60 minutes is only agreed by 9% of people.

For technology drivers using electric vehicles, charging the vehicle is even more important than for ordinary consumers. Because of the constant travel, time is the driver's income.

Ho Chi Minh City is planning to convert 400,000 gasoline-powered motorbikes of technology drivers to electric vehicles, starting in 2026 and completing in early 2029. With the emergence of a large number of new electric vehicles, setting up a suitable charging station system is worth considering.

Factors that determine the success of an electric charging station on a scale. Source: Cho Tot Xe and KPMG

Driver Nguyen Thanh Son (34 years old, Tang Nhon Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said that technology car drivers have the habit of going to charging stations and taking a break while waiting for a full charge. Drivers will not charge at single power poles on the street, except in cases where the car suddenly runs out of battery.

“The more charging stations the better, but there needs to be somewhere for drivers to rest. No one is going to stand outside for hours waiting for a charge,” he said.

This explains why charging stations and coffee shops with resting places for technology drivers are often full of customers. Drivers also often prefer charging stations with large, open areas to ensure safety when charging. A software called “Nearby familiar shops” has even been built, appearing on both the App Store and Android, allowing users to find charging stations on a map based on real-time location.

Need for safe charging solutions

Driver Le Vu Truong Hinh ( Tay Ninh ) is a regular customer of charging stations on the road. To prevent fire and explosion, he does not charge his car overnight at home but only charges it outside. He shared his experience that after driving home, he will let the car rest for half an hour before charging it. He also noted that technology drivers should not modify or add batteries to extend the driving time, which can easily lead to technical errors and fire and explosion.

According to Professor Jago Dodson, Director of the Urban Future Impact Platform, RMIT University (Australia), for delivery drivers and people who need to use their vehicles to travel frequently, public charging stations are essential.

These stations should be equipped with fast charging capabilities and apply a uniform standard across the city. The battery swap model being applied in other countries is also a viable option because Ho Chi Minh City has a large scale of motorbike usage.

In addition, RMIT representatives said that electric motorbikes consume relatively little electricity, so many people will likely charge them at home. However, this can lead to spontaneous charging methods such as pulling power lines from inside the house to the street, which is unsafe. Therefore, there is a need for safe charging solutions at the neighborhood level with appropriate designs that do not affect the urban landscape.

Speaking to VietNamNet , Master Nguyen Tan Nghiep, Vice President and General Secretary of the Southern Electricity Association, estimated that Ho Chi Minh City has about 150,000 two-wheeled electric vehicles with about 600 charging stations. Thus, if 400,000 new electric vehicles appear, a total of 2,500 to 3,000 standard charging stations will be needed.

He commented that the current increase in electricity output due to electric vehicle charging is not a large proportion, but Ho Chi Minh City needs to soon calculate the investment in charging stations in each phase. Specifically, the competent authorities need to study: the current status of the power grid where the station is located; the roadmap for placing stations that meet technical standards; promulgate the charging process and time to avoid local overloading of the power grid...

“The power grid can accommodate the appearance of 400,000 electric two-wheelers. However, if it increases rapidly without calculation, the risk of charging leading to fire and explosion incidents is real. The city's electricity industry needs to invest and upgrade the power grid by about 10% of its current capacity, mainly the medium and low voltage grid, to be able to meet the requirements of the vehicle conversion plan,” Mr. Nghiep analyzed.

Setting up charging stations may involve land and construction issues. According to Nguyen Xuan Quy, Vice President of the Vietnam Clean Energy Association, solar power is a solution that needs to be considered to take advantage of rooftop space. In the long term, electrification of transportation should be linked to renewable energy.

Regarding the city's plan to convert gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles mentioned above, Mr. Bui Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation (EVNHCMC) affirmed that the unit will do everything possible to provide enough electricity.

However, representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City electricity industry said that users should also avoid charging at the same time, causing local overload. At the same time, drivers should proactively charge from areas with solar power sources. For charging station providers, flexible charging solutions such as battery swapping should be considered and must comply with the requirements for operating the power system.

The Deputy General Director of EVNHCMC also said that the city needs to have regulations and a reasonable charging system plan to avoid negative impacts on the quality of electricity on the grid. The management agency should clearly define the responsibilities of the parties in using electricity, and at the same time, create a legal corridor for healthy competition among charging station investors.

“The electricity industry will build a charging source operation management system, propose policies and legal corridors for local electric vehicle charging programs,” said Mr. Kien.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chuyen-xe-xang-sang-xe-dien-cach-thuc-hoa-giai-noi-lo-bac-nhat-2429871.html