Green solution for urban transport

The Energy Efficiency Research Group from the School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics under Ha Noi University of Science and Technology (HUST), has proposed a green solution in its latest research, as presented at the International Conference ATiGB 2025 under the theme: “Towards green transport: A model for electric vehicle charging stations integrated with renewable energy and energy storage systems in Viet Nam.” This model has been piloted at the Cam Lam rest stop along National Highway 1A.

Transitioning to green transport

At 8:30am on July 15, we visited the Ba Trieu – Dai Co Viet intersection (a section within Ring Road 1), an area where petrol-powered motorcycles will be banned from July 2026 according to Directive No. 20 of the prime minister. According to observations, most people passing through this intersection use petrol-powered cars and motorcycles, while the rate of electric vehicles is very low. This means that after about a year, most of the motorcycles currently in circulation will no longer be used.

It is no coincidence that Viet Nam is still known as a country with cities depending on motorcycles. According to statistics, Ha Noi currently has more than 9.2 million vehicles, of which about 8 million are under the direct management of the city, including 1.1 million cars and 6.9 million motorcycles. In addition, about 1.2 million vehicles from other provinces also regularly circulate in Ha Noi.

Experts say that the urban infrastructure planning of Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, especially in the inner city and central areas, is an infrastructure suitable for the flexibility of motorbikes. Many individuals have both cars and motorcycles, but they mainly use motorcycles for daily travel due to the flexibility of the vehicle. Banning petrol-powered motorcycles will likely result in increased car usage. So, the question is that if just 5% of motorcycles users switch to personal cars, will the traffic infrastructure be sufficient to meet the needs for smooth traffic? From a social welfare perspective, the transition to electric vehicles also requires special attention for people who earn their livelihoods using petrol-powered motorcycles (such as transporting goods or passengers).

In addition, standards, regulations and technical infrastructure need to be synchronised. “With a large number of motorcycles that need to be converted from petrol to electric, where will charging stations be located, and how will safety and regulatory standards be assured? Assuming that people are comfortable to convert to electric vehicles, how will the electric vehicle charging price be calculated? Currently, the average charging cost for electric motorcycles offered by some service providers is about 10,000 VND per kilowatt-hour. Will this price remain stable over time? After the full transition to electric vehicles, will charging fees be adjusted, and will they remain affordable for the public?” said Le Thi Thanh Nhan, a traffic and climate change specialist and independent consultant.

Meanwhile, Ha Noi’s public transport system currently meets only around 17% of peoples’ travel needs, regardless of the area or presence of ring roads. According to the Ha Noi Department of Construction, the city’s public passenger transport system currently operates 154 bus routes, including 12 adjacent routes with a total of more than 2,300 vehicles. There is only one urban railway route operating within Ring Road 1 (Cat Linh – Ha Dong).

To ensure an effective green transport transition, Le Thi Thanh Nhan recommends that it is necessary to conduct comprehensive research, both technical and socio-economic, to have a scientific basis for developing a suitable roadmap. Grouping the transitioning target, prioritising transitioning of old and expired vehicles through the tax-fee mechanism. Gradual transition by vehicle age can help avoid market disruption. Financial tools such as subsidies, tax exemptions, and preferential loans should be applied to support people, especially low-income unskilled labourers, in accessing electric vehicles. A national system of technical standards and regulations must be developed for both charging infrastructure and vehicles to ensure safety and synchronic deployment. It is also essential to conduct social impact analysis and future forecasts, including supply ability of the power system, urban planning, and risk management related to labour and production restructures.

Potential steps

Citing data showing that transport emissions account for 56.1% of air pollution in Ha Noi, Hoang Duong Tung, Chairman of the Viet Nam Clean Air Network, stressed the urgency of implementing measures to reduce air pollution. The decision to ban petrol-powered motorcycles within Ring Road 1 from July 2026 demonstrates the government’s firm commitment to address air pollution in Ha Noi and other urban areas. Further, it is necessary to convert all means of transport and control pollution comprehensively to create a low-emission zone.

From January to July 2025, The Energy Efficiency Research Group from the School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics under (HUST) introduced a green solution in its latest research presented at the International Conference ATiGB 2025 under the theme: “Towards green transport: A model for electric vehicle charging stations integrated with renewable energy and energy storage systems in Viet Nam.”

Dr. Hoang Anh, Director of the EE1 Electrical Engineering Training Programme and Head of the Energy Efficiency Research Group, explained that electric vehicles consume significant volumes of electricity, requiring high-capacity charging stations that pose challenges for the electricity system, especially with the increasing power demands of today. To address this, the research group has focused on a smart electric vehicle charging station model integrating photovoltaic (PV) power, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and fast-charging posts.

“This research involved collecting data, reviewing and adjusting according to actual conditions in Viet Nam, as well as building and calculating detailed scenarios and conditions to carry out in the real situation. The results indicate the feasible model in both economic condition and pilot implementation,” said Dr. Hoang Anh.

“Viet Nam has the advantage of solar energy, with average radiation of 4–5 kWh/m²/day. However, solar power depends on weather and time of day (day-night), so it requires battery energy storage systems (BESSs). A BESS stores energy when solar output is high or electricity prices are low, and it discharges when consumption is high or solar output is limited. This system reduces dependence on electricity grid, optimises renewable energy output, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and cuts operational costs through BESS and off-peak charging strategies. The system can also operate in parallel with the power grid, thanks to BESS integration, helping efficient charging during peak hours and easing the burden on the power grid of the city,” said Nguyen The Phong, a lecturer and a member of the Energy Efficiency Research Group.

The smart charging station is currently being piloted at Cam Lam Rest Stop. This is also the first electric vehicle charging station model integrating renewable energy and energy storage system in Viet Nam. Simulation results show that this system is beneficial in reducing the load on the electricity grid and protecting the environment, while being low in cost and self-sufficient in energy (self-production and consumption).

From the initial results, the research group proposed that it can be replicated because the average electricity cost for the entire system (including charging infrastructure) is very low, only 1,700 VND/kWh, lower than the current commercial electricity price. The payback period is short (3.9 years), and the internal rate of return (IRR) could reach 22%. From the smart charging station solution, Ha Noi can quickly deploy a network of charging stations in parking lots, transit points, or renovated gas stations across the inner city; limit the need to upgrade large-scale electricity infrastructure thanks to decentralised storage; encourage people to switch to use electric vehicles with reasonable and convenient charging costs.

Evaluating the research, expert Le Thi Thanh Nhan said that the pilot project of an electric vehicle charging station in Cam Lam Rest Stop with a model integrating rooftop solar power and an energy storage system is a testament to the potential for green infrastructure development in Viet Nam.

“However, this model is just the beginning. Replication requires solutions to many big problems: from forecasting demand for electric vehicles, planning charging systems, to ensuring stable power sources, especially in the context that Viet Nam's power system is already under a lot of pressure during peak seasons. In addition, a set of synchronous national standards on charging technology, system safety and operating mechanisms for this model need to be deployed effectively on a large scale. It is necessary to build a sufficiently close legal corridor to help the market develop sustainably,” Nhan commented.

Link to the original article