People use an electric vehicle to visit the Sài Gòn Zoo and Botanical Garden in HCM City’s District 1.  — VNA/VNS Photo An Hiếu

HCM CITY — Some 200 electric cars will be used to transport tourists around downtown HCM City.

The city's Department of Transport has submitted a pilot project of using electric cars to the municipal People's Committee for consideration and approval.

Under the project, each car can carry five to 14 passengers, with a maximum speed of 30km per hour for tours around the city.

The service will operate from six hours to 24 hours per day, and is carried out by the Saigon Public Transport Co.,Ltd.

The cars will park at a parking lot owned by the Sài Gòn Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO) at No 121 on Cô Giang Street in District 1.

​Pick-up and drop-off locations will be agreed upon with tourist accommodation establishments and tourist attractions. The area for vehicles serving tourism will be at 23/9 Park in District 1.

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

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.

The scheme will start from District 1 to District 4, 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 and Võ Văn Kiệt streets, Calmette Bridge, Đoàn Văn Bơ, Hoàng Diệu and Nguyễn Tất Thành streets, and Nhà Rồng Port.

In the second phase, the service will be expanded to Districts 5 and 6, crossing Nguyễn Văn Cừ, Nguyễn Trãi, Nguyễn Tri Phương, Hùng Vương, Hồng Bàng, Nguyễn Thị Nhỏ, Lê Quang Sung, Phạm Đình Hổ, Tháp Mười and Hải Thượng Lãn Ông streets.

In the third phase, it will cover Thủ Đức city and Districts 3 and 10. — VNS