Ho Chi Minh City's draft road map for switching to electric vehicles is facing strong pushback from experts. The plan would trial a low-emission zone from July 2027 across over 16.6 square kilometers of the center and Thu Thiem. From early 2029, the zone would stretch to Ring Road 2, covering roughly 280 square kilometers. By 2035, nearly all vehicles inside it should run on electricity or green energy, with a citywide shift by 2040.
At a recent conference, specialists called the timeline hasty and hard to implement. One expert noted the expansion would affect over 6.1 million residents and about 11.5 million daily trips. He doubted that 33,000 battery-swapping stations, 19,000 charging posts, and the power grid could meet demand. A lawyers' association leader added that motorbikes make up about 90 percent of city vehicles and support millions of livelihoods. Industry groups urged the city to judge vehicles by emission standards and accept hybrids as a transition step.