HCMC – The Ministry of Construction has proposed requiring all newly built condo buildings to include dedicated parking areas for electric vehicles, along with charging and battery-swapping stations, under revised national technical standards.
The proposal is part of a draft amendment to the national technical regulations on apartment buildings, which the ministry is seeking public feedback on, adding specific technical requirements for EV parking and charging infrastructure.
According to the Ministry of Construction, Vietnam currently has nearly 200,000 electric cars and about three million electric motorbikes nationwide, and the numbers are expected to continue rising, increasing demand for safe parking and charging facilities.
The ministry said existing regulations only cover conventional vehicle parking and lack comprehensive legal provisions for EV charging stations in apartment buildings, particularly in planning, construction and fire prevention.
Under the draft, EV parking areas must be located within the project’s land area. If outdoor space is unavailable, indoor EV parking must be placed in accessible locations and meet ventilation and firefighting safety requirements.
The draft proposes separating EV parking from vehicles using internal combustion engines, and further separating parking areas for electric cars and electric motorbikes.
EV parking areas must be spaced at least two meters apart. If this is not possible, non-combustible walls or partitions at least two meters high must be installed. These areas will count toward the total parking area, with internal traffic arranged to avoid obstruction.
EV parking zones must be equipped with fire detection cameras, compliant ventilation and smoke exhaust systems, and appropriate emergency response plans.
For new apartment buildings, the draft requires mandatory EV parking areas for residents, in line with each locality’s roadmap for green transport transition. For existing buildings, EV parking may be added depending on available space and technical infrastructure but must still meet safety standards.
For EV charging areas, the draft requires them to be located within the project site. Indoor charging stations may only be placed on the first basement or semi-basement levels, while deeper basements must have additional technical solutions.
Charging areas must not obstruct emergency exits or fire access routes and must be separated for electric cars and electric motorbikes.
The draft also sets requirements on the scale of charging areas, fire compartmentation, automatic fire alarm and suppression systems, and 24-hour camera monitoring, and assigns responsibilities for safe management and operation.
Individuals would be prohibited from charging vehicles in lobbies, corridors or emergency exits, bringing batteries or electric vehicles into elevators or apartments, or drawing electricity from private units to common areas.
