Taxies wait to pick up passengers at Tan Son Nhat Airport. (Photo: VNA)Vice president of the association Ho Quoc Phi noted that electriccars are widely regarded as the future of the automobile industry, offeringadvantages such as easy refuelling, reduced maintenance, increased safety, noneed to change oil or coolant, and less engine noise.
Several taxi companies in the capital have conducted surveys,tests, and preliminary evaluations on using electric vehicles in theiroperations to keep pace with the global transportation industry and capitaliseon opportunities.
The use of electric vehicles would be an advantage in fluctuatingfuel prices because of heavy dependence on the global situation and supplysources.
Meanwhile, the associations said the electricity price was quitestable, which would help taxi firms reduce costs and benefit passengers.
Nguyen Anh Quan, Director of Taxi G7 Company, said the use ofbattery-powered cabs was an inevitable trend.
He said it was necessary to study and evaluate safety factors fordrivers and passengers to choose suppliers of vehicles together withcalculating fares to benefit all parties, including enterprises, drivers andpassengers.
He added that incentive policies should be raised to encouragereplacing petrol-powered vehicles with battery-powered ones as a part of theeffort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including tax policies,infrastructure systems and charging station development.
Agreeing with the proposal of using electric vehicles in taxservices, Pham Chi Trung from the National Assembly’s Committee for Science,Technology and Environment, said that the green transition in business wasvital, a new trend, a new progression in socio-economic development.
“It is essential for Vietnam to keep pace with the global trend,”Trung said.
The association also proposed a ban on taxis on some streets to belifted and the planning for more parking spots for cabs to be considered.
Nguyen Cong Hung, President of the Hanoi Taxi Association, saidthat the ban of taxis on some routes in some hour frames in the capital citysignificantly affected the tourism industry transportation.
Allowing taxi operation on some streets might help reduce trafficcongestion as people would not use their vehicles.
Nguyen Van Quyen, President of the Vietnam Automobile TransportAssociation, said that taxis should be considered a form of public transport.
“When taxis are widely available and the fares are moreaffordable, the use of private vehicles will be reduced,” he argued.
It was also necessary to have a plan for taxi parking which wouldhelp reduce costs, ensure safety on the road and reduce traffic congestion, Quyensaid./.
VNA
