Hanoi hosts Vietnam’s first smart electric bus service
VinBus Transport Service Co., a subsidiary of Vietnam’s largest conglomerate Vingroup, launched the nation’s first smart electric bus service in Hanoi Thursday.
In the first phase of the service, the buses will only run in the Vinhomes Ocean Park urban area in Gia Lam District. The company’s is waiting for the completion of procedures to connect with the city’s public transport network, said VinBus deputy director Nguyen Van Thanh.
The buses are manufactured and assembled by automaker VinFast at its factory in Hai Phong City, around 120 kilometers from Hanoi.
Each bus is equipped with an automated system able to control driving behavior and give warnings about unsafe situations. The system includes an on-board public address facility, free WiFi, USB charging ports, security cameras and other features.
With a battery capacity of 281 kWh, the bus can travel between 220 and 260 kilometers on a single charge, carrying 68 passengers at a time.
VinBus plans to make 200-300 vehicles a year in the coming years and run them on 15 bus routes in the three popular tourist destinations of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Phu Quoc City.
The bus service is part of the company’s aim of developing a modern public transportation system that reduces air and noise pollution in Vietnam’s major cities.
By Doan Dung – VnExpress.net – April 9, 2021