According to the proposal, 200 electric cars with between 5-14 seats and maximum speed of 30 kilometres per hour would transport tourists in the city, with tickets priced at between VND 10,000-50,000 a trip. Customers could pay VND100,000 for a day trip and between VND 70,000-250,000 for hiring the whole car for a trip.
The pilot operation of electric cars would be divided into three stages, with the first starting on April 30 with 70 cars running in District 1 between Nha Rong Wharf and finishing at Van Don Wharf.
The second stage will be carried out from the fourth quarter of this year when the cars will expand operations to District 5 on some streets including Hung Vuong, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Nguyen Thi Nho, Le Quang Sung, Ngo Nhan Tinh, Vo Van Kiet, and Nguyen Van Cu.
After that, the pilot programme will be expanded to districts 3, 10, and Thu Duc City from the first quarter of 2024. The cars will run around the clock but not during bad weather. A total of 200 cars will be used for the programme.
The department said that electric cars will partly meet the rising need for tourist travel. These cars will also help connect other means of transport including public buses and bicycles.
However, many local people are opposed to the proposal, saying that such electric cars aren't suitable for the weather and road conditions in HCM City. Others said that they would only worsen traffic jams in the area.
HCM City previously launched three bus routes using 12-seated electric vehicles. However, only two of the routes are currently operating in Phu My Hung Urban Area and District 7. Last March, the city also piloted a bus route using large electric vehicles running from Vinhomes Grand Park in Thu Duc City to District 1. This was among five routes planned for the city centre.