HCMC – HCMC’s Department of Construction has proposed that the city lease part of the land at 19 bus depots to install electric vehicle charging stations, under a plan submitted to the municipal government.
The proposal is part of a scheme to exploit road transport infrastructure assets through leasing. A total of 19 depots would have portions of their land leased for charging station installation.
The city currently operates 179 bus routes with 2,112 vehicles, including 1,301 electric buses, accounting for around 62% of the fleet.
In the 2025–2030 period, the city plans to convert an additional 3,011 diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to electric, including 1,537 replacements and 1,474 new units.
The Public Transport Management Center is managing 25 bus depots with a total area of over 120,000 square meters. None currently have charging infrastructure, affecting operators’ charging schedules and planning.
The 19 proposed depots have a combined area of nearly 110,000 square meters, with over 25,000 square meters to be leased. Four depots, including the former District 8 bus station, Saigon, Cho Lon and Binh Thai, are planned to install three battery swapping cabinets each for electric motorbikes.
The leasing rights will be auctioned with a term of seven years. Estimated revenue from the plan is nearly VND180 billion over the period.
Charging stations will prioritize electric buses from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., using combined charging system type 2 (CCS2) connectors and open software systems compatible with all electric bus types.
