The Great Automotive Shift: Bidding Farewell to Gasoline Queues

Switching to an electric scooter because of the hassle of lining up for gas

“I remember the days of waiting to fill up on gas, and it was a real drag,” shared Mr. Phuc Binh (Ho Chi Minh City), a former owner of a Yamaha Exciter. In late 2022, there was a severe shortage of gas and oil in Ho Chi Minh City, leading to many fuel stations ceasing operations. Residents had to line up for hours under unpredictable weather conditions at the remaining open gas stations to refuel. Fed up with this situation, Mr. Binh decided to trade in his scooter for a VinFast Feliz S, which he has been using for the past two years.

Mr. Phuc Binh (Ho Chi Minh City) switched to an electric scooter to avoid lining up for gas

According to Mr. Binh, another reason for his switch to an electric scooter was his test drive of VinFast’s Klara S, which revealed several advantages of electric scooters: smoothness, excellent acceleration, and, most notably, “no need for gas.” When the “necessary and sufficient” conditions presented themselves, he bid farewell to his manual transmission scooter.

“VinFast gives me a sense of trust and reassurance that other brands don’t,” said Mr. Binh, explaining his choice. Their clear business strategy, five-year vehicle warranty, and the fact that it’s a Vietnamese brand also influenced his decision to show his support.

While Mr. Binh also enjoyed the riding experience of the Klara S, his preference for a sportier design led him to choose the VinFast Feliz S. He describes the scooter as having a compact, tall design and enjoyable performance. The “water flow” of the Feliz S, in his opinion, is exceptional, providing a rapid acceleration unlike anything he had experienced on regular scooters before.

Electric scooters can definitely replace gas-powered ones

For Mr. Binh, who primarily commutes within the city, covering 50-60 km per day, and has the convenience of charging his scooter at home, an electric scooter is the ideal choice. 

“Since getting my Feliz S, I haven’t had to worry about gas prices,” he joked. The significantly lower charging costs compared to fueling up are another big plus for electric scooters. Mr. Binh mentions that he hasn’t kept track of the charging costs for his Feliz S because the impact on his home electricity bill has been negligible. Moreover, the ability to charge the battery at home whenever convenient is a significant advantage over gas-powered scooters.

According to Mr. Binh’s calculations, a gas-powered scooter typically consumes about 2.5 liters of gas for every 100 km traveled. With the current gas prices, the operating cost of a gas-powered scooter per kilometer is approximately 500 VND. 

According to the owner’s calculations, the electric scooter is much more economical than a gas-powered one

In contrast, his VinFast Feliz S consumes only about 3.5 kWh of electricity to travel nearly 200 km. Considering the residential electricity rate of 3,500 VND per kWh, the cost of traveling 1 km on an electric scooter is just 61 VND. This means that the charging cost for an electric scooter is only one-eighth of the fueling cost for a gas-powered scooter.

Additionally, electric scooters have fewer mechanical parts and don’t require frequent oil changes like gas-powered scooters, resulting in significantly lower maintenance costs. Many users have pointed out this advantage as well.

After about two years of use, Mr. Binh’s Feliz S has covered approximately 30,000 km, surpassing the 20,000 km he rode on his gas-powered Exciter during the same period. Moreover, he hasn’t encountered any inconveniences thanks to VinFast’s extensive network of charging stations across all 63 provinces. In fact, Mr. Binh believes that with their low operating costs, zero emissions, and affordable prices, electric scooters have the potential to replace gas-powered scooters in the future.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)