An electric car carries visitors in District 1, HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

HCM CITY — HCM City's Department of Transport has proposed piloting electric cars to transport tourists around the city.

Under the proposal, the city will operate 200 electric cars, each carrying five to 14 passengers, with a maximum speed of 30km per hour for tours around the city, the country's biggest economic hub in the south.

Initially, 70 cars with a capacity of eight to 10 seats will be put into operation. In the following stages, 60 more cars with seven seats or less and 70 cars with a capacity of 11-14 seats will be added to the fleet, which will operate 24 hours a day.

Tourists can book the electric car service via a mobile app or directly with staff.

The scheme will start from April 30 in District 1, crossing Nhà Rồng Wharf, Khánh Hội Bridge, and Tôn Đức Thắng, Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Hoàng Sa, Hai Bà Trưng, Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Võ Văn Kiệt streets, Calmette bridge and Vân Đồn.

In the second phase starting from the fourth quarter of this year, the service will be expanded to District 5. In the third phase, from the first quarter of 2024, will cover District 3, District 10 and Thủ Đức City.

Earlier, the municipal People’s Committee allowed four businesses to provide electric car services, but only two firms implemented the project with two routes around Phú Mỹ Hưng urban area. — VNS