The first electric bus route was officially launched in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8.
The 29-kilometre route D4 will link Vinhomes Grand Park, a residential area in Thu Duc City, and Saigon Bus Station in District 1.
About 77 65-70 passenger capacity electric buses will be used for this route. They are scheduled for the operation from 5 am to 9.15 pm every day.
Addressing the launching ceremony, director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport, Tran Quang Lam, said that Ho Chi Minh City is aiming to develop into a civilised, modern, and sustainable urban area.
In order to fulfill this ambition, the development of public transport must be considered as the top priority to resolve the southern city’s traffic problems.The operation of environmentally friendly electric buses on a pilot basis is expected to contribute to establishing a modern transport system that provides residents with additional high-quality transport services, Lam added.
According to the HCM City’s Department of Transport, route D4 is one of five electric-bus routes to be piloted in the city for a duration of two years.Four other electric bus routes are expected to be put into operation in the third and fourth quarter of this year. They consist of a 27-kilometre route connecting Vinhomes Grand Park-Emart, a 30-kilometre route running from Vinhomes Grand Park to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, an 8.5-kilometre route travelling from Vinhomes Grand to Mien Dong New Bus Station and a 10-kilometre route linking Mien Dong New Bus Station and HCM City National University.
The suggested ticket price is VND 3,000 (USD0.13) per trip for students and VND 7,000 for others.The electric bus service will receive a 44.1 percent city subsidy of its operational costs during the trial phase.Vietnam’s first smart electric buses that make use eco-friendly energy were officially put into operation in Hanoi last December.
