VinFast car owners can easily locate charging stations in 80 cities within a 3.5 km radius.

VinFast tackles the challenge of charging infrastructure in Vietnam

With a strong commitment to the development of electric vehicles, VinFast has recognized the significance of establishing a comprehensive charging station network. The company has invested hundreds of millions of USD in infrastructure to achieve this goal. Within a short timeframe since the launch of its first electric vehicle, the VF e34, VinFast has successfully established charging stations across all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam.

This accomplishment was further validated when two VinFast VF e34 vehicles completed a cross-country journey in March 2022. Starting from Hanoi, these electric vehicles traveled over 1,970 km, with 11 charging stops along the way, and reached Ho Chi Minh City after 48 hours. VinFast has undeniably taken the crucial first step in expanding the charging station network for electric vehicles.

However, the challenge extends beyond the establishment of a nationwide network. The demand for electric vehicles varies across different locations, with urban areas and city centers having a higher concentration of electric vehicle owners. This creates a necessity for a larger number of charging stations in these regions.

VinFast has developed a public charging system covering 80 out of 85 cities, ensuring a maximum distance of 3.5km between stations.

Recognizing this, alongside the successful expansion of the charging station network nationwide, VinFast is now focusing on deepening its infrastructure. Currently, VinFast’s public charging system is operational in 80 out of 85 cities across Vietnam. In urban areas, the distance between two charging stations does not exceed 3.5 km, allowing customers to access a charging station within minutes.

Consequently, VinFast is providing a comprehensive solution to both challenges in the electric vehicle charging station network. The company has deployed charging stations along 106 national highways and expressways, offering various power capacities, from regular charging to super-fast charging. This allows for convenient long-distance travel between provinces using electric vehicles. In urban areas, charging stations are readily available in public parking lots, shopping centers, apartments, office buildings, and other locations.

By combining the use of home chargers, VinFast electric vehicle owners can confidently embark on lengthy journeys throughout the country. This gives VinFast a significant advantage over competitors planning to introduce electric vehicles in Vietnam who have yet to overcome the dual challenge of charging stations.

VinFast’s charging station system positions Vietnam at the forefront of electric vehicle infrastructure

VinFast’s investment in the charging station system showcases its strategic and forward-thinking vision for electric vehicle development in the Vietnamese market. The company’s efforts also demonstrate its global reach as a Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer, acknowledging that the development of charging infrastructure is still in its early stages.

This can be observed in the United States, a leading country in electric vehicle development with well-established infrastructure. Despite these advantages, the US still faces challenges regarding the availability of charging stations. Meeting the demand for electric vehicle charging in metropolitan areas, central regions, and high-rise apartment buildings, where electric vehicle usage is more prevalent, poses a significant hurdle.

Even developed countries like the US struggle with insufficient charging station infrastructure.

In response to this, over ten states in the US have enacted the Right To Charge Act to facilitate the installation of charging stations in residential buildings. These acts prohibit building owners and homeowner associations from impeding residents’ ability to install and use electric vehicle chargers in residential areas, while also establishing standardized installation requirements.

In Europe, the second-largest electric vehicle market globally, the UK has implemented modified building regulations effective from June 2022. These regulations mandate the installation of charging points or cable routes in new residential areas, while residential areas with over 10 parking spaces must have at least one electric vehicle charger.

In Norway, known as the “electric vehicle capital” of Europe, the Ministry of Transport and Communications has required that new buildings and parking lots allocate a minimum of 6% of parking spaces for electric vehicle charging since 2016.

In Singapore, public charging stations play a crucial role in charging electric vehicles.

Turning attention to Asia, Singapore shares similarities with major cities in Vietnam, with a large population residing in high-rise apartments. As a result, charging electric vehicles largely relies on public charging stations. The Singaporean government has set an ambitious target of having 40,000 public charging ports by 2030.

To achieve this goal, the Singaporean government has introduced electric vehicle charging laws. These laws require new buildings to allocate at least 1% of their parking spaces for chargers, with the charging infrastructure meeting the corresponding power requirements.

Anh Quan (forum.autodaily.vn)