According to a plan recently signed by Hue City People's Committee Vice Chairman Hoang Hai Minh on 17/7, the shift aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote green transportation within the city.

Between 2025 and 2030, the city aims for 100% of newly invested or replaced buses to be electric or use clean energy. For taxis and contract passenger transport vehicles, the rate of newly invested or replaced electric vehicles is 60% and 30%, respectively.

In 2025, Hue City will develop a basic charging station system to serve public electric vehicles. By 2030, the charging station network will cover all 40 communes and wards in the area, meeting the needs of residents using electric cars.

A bus crosses Nguyen Hoang Bridge on its opening day. Photo: Vo Thanh

A bus crosses Nguyen Hoang Bridge on its opening day. Photo: Vo Thanh

Tran Thien Thanh Toan, head of Phuong Trang bus company's branch in Hue City, said the company currently operates 112 buses, put into operation in two phases in 2020 and 2023 after taking over public transport routes. "Following the city's policy, the company will gradually switch to electric buses. The company is developing a plan to invest in charging stations, and when the infrastructure is complete, electric buses will be put into operation," Toan said.

Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Hue City Department of Construction, said the city has 15 bus routes in operation. The inner-city bus system has been completely socialized, meeting the travel needs of residents and tourists, contributing to reducing personal vehicles and limiting congestion.

According to statistics, Hue City currently has more than 70,000 cars with fewer than 9 seats and other motor vehicles in circulation. In the past 5 years, the growth rate of personal vehicles in this city has reached over 10% per year, leading to congestion starting to appear on some main roads.

The transition of buses to green energy in Hue is being implemented as the Prime Minister recently issued Directive 20 requiring ministries, branches, and localities to comprehensively synthesize solutions for environmental pollution prevention and control. Transportation is one of the areas emphasized for rapid conversion to clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting green infrastructure, such as electric charging stations and environmentally friendly means of transport.

Vo Thanh