Finding a way forward for green transport
Dat Thanh
16:00 26/04/2025
Saigon Economy Online
(KTSG) - The commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 has put Vietnam's green transport sector at the heart of its sustainable development policies. Electric vehicles are currently leading the trend, but experts warn that electric vehicles will not be able to help Vietnam reach the finish line alone.
According to the commitment at COP26, Vietnam will completely eliminate fossil fuel vehicles by 2040 and replace them with zero-emission vehicles, including cars, motorbikes and electric or hydrogen-powered buses, by 2050.
Additional directions for decarbonization
In fact, most of the initial efforts have focused on electric buses and taxis in major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with VinFast taking the lead. However, relying on a single manufacturer and a single technology could slow down the transition, according to Dr. Pham Van Dai, lecturer at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM), at a workshop on green transport policy and technology held on March 25.
Dr. Pham Van Dai, lecturer at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (FSPPM), presented at a workshop on green transport policy and technology held on March 25.
Photo: Dat Thanh
“We have to go beyond the limits of electric vehicles if we really want to achieve the goal of net zero emissions,” Dai stressed. He said hydrogen technology could play a complementary role, especially in the heavy-duty or long-haul transport sector, where electric batteries have limited range.
Although hydrogen refueling infrastructure is not yet ready, experts say large public or industrial fleets could be the first to adopt the technology.
Mr. Dai also warned that market monopoly would hinder competition and innovation, and called for attracting more domestic and foreign manufacturers to the zero-emission vehicle market.
Infrastructure: the biggest bottleneck
Although policies to reduce registration fees and tax incentives for electric vehicles have been issued, according to Mr. Le Ngoc Anh Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam - ASEAN Hydrogen Club, the success of the market depends mainly on infrastructure. “Without enough charging stations for electric vehicles or hydrogen refueling stations, consumers will not have enough confidence to switch,” Mr. Minh said.
The charging station network is still very limited in both rural and urban areas. Even in large cities, public transport businesses said they have not received the necessary support to electrify their fleets. The development of hydrogen vehicles faces major challenges, from building a supply network to ensuring safety in storage and transportation.
Experts also propose utilizing offshore oil and gas rigs to produce hydrogen. Dr. Doan Xuan Tien, Head of Research and Development Department of PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PV Gas), said that his unit has conducted a feasibility study on blending hydrogen into the existing natural gas pipeline system. Initial results show that the potential for integration is real, but large-scale deployment is still far away if issues related to technical safety, pipeline materials and operating standards are not resolved.
Mr. Tien emphasized that converting old infrastructure to serve hydrogen “is not as simple as we once thought”. In fact, converting old systems to operate hydrogen safely and efficiently requires a huge amount of technical work. Everything from design to material testing must be reviewed.
In addition to the fuel issue, the national power grid is also under great pressure. Despite Vietnam’s heavy investment in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, grid overloads still occur periodically. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles on a large scale could exacerbate this situation without consistent investment in transmission, storage, and load management.
Finding the solution: Testing, supporting, and diversifying
Experts at the workshop proposed a series of solutions to help Vietnam move closer to its zero-emission transportation goal. Mr. Minh proposed piloting 5 or 10 hydrogen buses in Ho Chi Minh City as a demonstration model, similar to the success of the water bus route. “It is important that people see hydrogen-powered vehicles in their daily lives, as the water bus creates value for the community,” he said.
Mr. Dai believes that electrifying public and business vehicles such as buses and taxis should be prioritized because they have fixed routes and are easy to control fuel costs. At the same time, he recommended that the Government should have a direct subsidy policy, especially for electric motorbikes because motorbikes are the most popular means of transport today and account for the majority of emissions in urban areas.
In addition, this doctor also called for promoting the participation of many domestic and foreign enterprises to create a competitive market, promote innovation and train human resources in technology high for the green vehicle industry.
The journey towards zero-emission transport in Vietnam is underway with many strong commitments on policy and long-term strategy. However, the gap between targets and reality remains large, especially in key areas such as charging infrastructure, refueling, grid management and investment mechanisms.
The goal of completely eliminating fossil fuel vehicles by 2040 and moving towards a zero-emission vehicle fleet by 2050 represents Vietnam's clear vision for a sustainable future with cleaner air. But as many experts have pointed out, the real challenge lies in translating policy commitments into concrete actions on the ground.
Whether the future of green transport in Vietnam lies in electric vehicles, hydrogen or a combination of both, one thing is certain: the underlying infrastructure – from the national grid to the network of charging and refuelling stations – will determine how quickly Vietnam can achieve its net zero emissions target in the transport sector.
Vietnam needs a concerted effort from the public sector, private enterprises and international partners to address the remaining bottlenecks. If it can do so, not only will the net zero emissions target be within reach, but Vietnam can also become a role model for green transport in Southeast Asia.
