Removing bottlenecks in electric vehicle charging
Ring Road 1 currently passes through many central areas of Ha Noi, running along major routes such as De La Thanh, Buoi, Vo Chi Cong, Nghi Tam, Yen Phu, Tran Khat Chan, and Dai Co Viet, with a total length of about 25 km. The ring road covers an area of roughly 31 km², with an estimated population of nearly 600,000 people and about 450,000 motorbikes in circulation.
Supporting the gradual reduction of petrol-powered motorbikes in favour of electric vehicles, Nguyen Van Quyen, Chairman of the Viet Nam Automobile Transport Association, noted that switching to electric modes of transport will certainly improve pollution levels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This transition also opens up new job opportunities in the electric car and motorbike industry, from vehicle manufacturing to related services such as charging stations and maintenance.
Architect Tran Huy Anh, member of the Standing Board of the Hanoi Architects’ Association, noted that charging infrastructure, parking spaces, and shared mobility services—such as electric bicycles and scooters for those entering Ring Road 1—remain critical “bottlenecks” to be resolved. “The city should develop Ring Road 1 into an ‘energy belt’, with about 2,000 charging poles,” he recommended.
At present, Ha Noi has about 1,000 charging poles of various types for public vehicles, cars, and electric motorbikes and bicycles. Recently, the Ha Noi Parking Management Company conducted a review and identified 40 potential locations for charging stations and has proposed to the Ha Noi People's Committee four suitable locations for installing electric vehicle charging stations. These include: the pavement and vacant land along Tran Khat Chan Street, from Lac Nghiep Street to Bach Mai; the empty lot from No. 621 to 768 De La Thanh Street; the parking area next to the Russian Embassy, near the Kim Ma–Cau Giay intersection; and the vacant land in front of the headquarters of the Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Xa Dan Street).
Experts emphasise the importance of making use of existing land plots and deploying them immediately, while at the same time systematically planning a city-wide EV charging network. This network should not only serve vehicles within Ring Road 1 but also become a vital “lifeline” powering EVs across the capital and neighbouring provinces.
Khuong Kim Tao, former Deputy Chief of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee, pointed out: “Some have suggested converting petrol stations into EV charging stations. However, this is impractical, as petrol stations often lack space. Charging points must be placed in suitable, spacious locations to ensure fire safety and accessibility for users.”
Synchronising solutions
To ensure sufficient infrastructure for charging stations, the demand for a reliable power supply network is equally crucial. At present, most residential areas and existing apartment complexes cannot meet the required capacity if additional charging stations are installed. Many experts have warned that forcing charging stations into unsuitable areas could lead to severe risks of fire and explosion caused by electrical overload, short circuits, or faults.
Architect Tran Huy Anh noted that while building a charging station network, the greatest burden falls on the electricity sector, which must solve the problem of how, in a short period, to provide enough power capacity for tens of thousands of electric vehicles within Ring Road No.1, and many more in the coming years as the plan to replace petrol-powered vehicles with electric ones is expanded.
Agreeing with this view, Architect Pham Thanh Tung, Chief of Office at the Viet Nam Association of Architects, added: “The power sector must calculate and invest in upgrading transmission infrastructure, substations at high, medium, and low voltage levels, as well as load management systems. Ha Noi has countless small alleys and densely populated residential areas. After many years of use, the power grid has become outdated, prone to overloads, and poses potential fire and explosion risks. Moreover, in public passenger transport, there must also be a shift towards electric vehicles.”
Another challenge lies in the absence of technical standards for charging poles and stations. Tran Manh Ha, Deputy Director of Giap Bat Bus Station, proposed: “Authorities should soon issue a national technical regulation for EV charging poles. Without it, companies may install chargers serving only their own vehicles, leaving those from other manufacturers – and the public – unable to use them.”
According to Ha Noi Department of Construction, the city will develop a master plan for EV charging stations in densely populated areas, bus stations, shopping centres, and major traffic routes. It also plans to issue technical standards and regulations for charging infrastructure, integrate charging stations and substations into urban and power sector planning, and encourage private investment in the network.
The Ha Noi People's Committee issued Decision No. 3763/QD-UBND on July 14, 2025, establishing an inter-agency task force to advise the city on implementing the tasks related to the transition to green transport and the development of electric charging infrastructure. The city also plans to increase the use of small electric buses and four-seater electric cars for shuttle services within Ring Road 1.
