HCMC – Fifty-two sidewalk locations in HCMC are eligible for the installation of electric motorbike battery swap cabinets, the city’s Department of Construction has announced.
The approved sites are located across multiple wards, including Saigon, Hoa Hung, Binh Hung Hoa, Tan Tao, An Lac, Dien Hong, Nhieu Loc, Vuon Lai, Binh Tri Dong, Phu Tho Hoa, Phu Thanh, Nha Be, Linh Xuan, Hiep Binh, Thu Duc and Cat Lai.
Companies seeking to deploy the cabinets must apply for a temporary sidewalk-use permit and pay the required fees. Applications can be submitted by post or through the city’s public service portal. If construction work is required, a separate construction permit must be obtained before operations begin.
The department has assigned the HCMC Roads Management Center and the HCMC Infrastructure Management Center to review road infrastructure and propose additional eligible sites, while ensuring traffic safety and urban order.
Businesses must cover all investment, installation, power connection and operating costs. They must demonstrate experience in battery-swapping infrastructure and sufficient financial capacity to deploy immediately after approval. Public liability insurance covering fire and explosion risks is required.
Equipment must meet quality and fire safety standards. Cabinets must have automatic shut-off and temperature warning systems, undergo periodic electrical safety inspections and meet minimum protection ratings such as IP65 or IP67.
Operators must resolve technical incidents within two to four hours. Cabinets cannot carry advertisements, except for brand logos, and must be monitored around the clock by cameras with remote connectivity.
Installations must not obstruct intersections, driveways, pedestrian crossings or access for people with disabilities. A minimum sidewalk width of 1.5 meters must be maintained. Cabinets must be spaced at least 500 meters apart, except in special cases.
Two companies have proposed large-scale deployments. Great Wealth Trading Service Company plans to install 10,000 cabinets, with 5,000 scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026 and the remainder in the second quarter. V-Green Global Charging Station Development JSC, a Vingroup subsidiary, has also proposed 10,000 cabinets, targeting completion in the first quarter of 2026 to serve more than 400,000 ride-hailing and delivery drivers in the city.
