Green transition from gasoline motorbikes to electric vehicles: For Vietnam to enter the sustainable transport revolution

No transition is easy. The same goes for switching from gasoline to electric. Only by overcoming skepticism and habit can we move towards a cleaner, greener, and fairer future for all.

A driver charges his car at a charging station in Beijing, China. (Source: UPI)

From restricting gasoline vehicles in Hanoi’s inner city to encouraging businesses to develop electric motorbikes, Vietnam is entering a period of drastic change in green transportation. Like any major reform, the path needs to be shaped by reason and empathy, so that each green step is firmly grounded in reality and the people’s hearts.

The turning point cannot be delayed.

Air pollution has become a “silent enemy” in large cities. According to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment , vehicles, especially old motorbikes, account for more than 70% of emissions causing urban air pollution. In that context, the Government’s orientation to switch to electric vehicles is a strategic step, not only to clean the air but also to fulfill international commitments to reduce net emissions to “0” by 2050.

According to Reuters (October 2025), Vietnam is one of the largest motorbike markets in the world with more than 70 million units in circulation. Therefore, the impact of the policy of switching to electric vehicles will not only be limited to the transport sector but also spread to socio- economic life, supply chains and people's awareness of a green future.

Moreover, this is a time that cannot be delayed. Every summer, major cities in Vietnam record high temperatures, fine dust exceeding safety limits, and "smoggy" days that force many people to wear masks even when walking in the park. The increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, along with huge medical costs due to pollution, are sounding the alarm. If no action is taken now, the environmental and public health losses will be many times greater than the cost of switching today. In this context, electric vehicles are not just a technological choice, but also a "choice of the times".

Investment in charging infrastructure is also accelerating, reflecting the commitment of countries, including Vietnam, to global sustainable development goals such as COP29. (Source: VnEconomy)

From environment to energy security

It is worth noting that the Vietnamese government’s vision is not limited to “replacing gasoline with electricity”, but rather a system-changing mindset. Transport electrification is seen as a pillar of a new industrialization strategy: reducing fuel imports, promoting battery and component manufacturing, creating green jobs, and forming a domestic clean energy supply chain.

In addition, this orientation also reflects the national responsibility in responding to climate change – when Vietnam is among the 10 countries most severely affected by rising sea levels and extreme weather. Each electric vehicle is not only a means of transport, but also a commitment of a country choosing the path of sustainable development.

But, like any structural change, the policy has not been without its backlash. Low-income workers worry that electric cars still cost more than regular gas cars; delivery drivers worry about battery life and charging times; while energy experts warn of pressure on the grid and the risk of secondary pollution if waste batteries are not properly disposed of.

The policy of restricting petrol vehicles in Hanoi has been creating heated debates, showing the thin line between green ideals and real life. Those reactions, if looked at closely, are not against the transformation, but the voice of those who want to go along with this revolution, not be left behind.

Charging stations are everywhere in Norway. (Source: DPA)

Transformation requires “human delay”

Once a country rich in oil, Norway is now a leader in abandoning gasoline engines. According to Reuters on January 2, nearly 100% of new cars sold in Norway in 2024 will be electric.

The miracle did not come from sudden bans, but from a comprehensive incentive system such as VAT exemption, reduced road tolls, free parking and priority traffic lanes. The government did not force people to choose electric cars, but rather made them choose them because they found them more profitable, cheaper and more convenient.

It is the “human lag” in policy, which is having enough time and tools for society to adapt naturally, instead of forcing it. The story of Norway shows that what is important is not speed, but consistency and people’s belief in a green future.

Meanwhile, China has chosen a different path, which is to ban and encourage at the same time. Since the early 2010s, many large cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen have restricted gasoline motorbikes in the central area, while investing heavily in the production of electric vehicles and lithium batteries. According to The Guardian (2024), after just over a decade, China has become a global electric vehicle powerhouse, accounting for more than 60% of total electric vehicle sales in the world.

The lesson here is that once the industry is strong enough and the charging infrastructure is widespread, the transition will be natural. People will choose electric cars not because they have to, but because it is the best option.

Compared to the two models above, Vietnam is in the “start-up and learning” stage. We have the advantage of gradually changing social awareness, of domestic enterprises such as VinFast, Dat Bike… ready to take the lead, and of a policy framework that has been built quite quickly in recent years. But there are still bottlenecks such as vehicle prices, charging stations, waste battery treatment and especially financial policies to support vulnerable groups.

According to a report by ETP (Energy Transition Partnership) on July 12, Vietnam needs to develop charging infrastructure and battery recycling chains in parallel if it wants a truly sustainable transition. Because an electric car cannot be considered “green” if its energy comes from coal, or if the battery is discarded without treatment.

Turn challenges into opportunities

If implemented properly, this transformation policy can create a strong boost for the economy. New value chains will be formed: battery production, components, charging stations, logistics, after-sales services, recycling, etc. From there, green jobs and clean technology will become the industry of the future. On the contrary, if implemented hastily, without synchronization and without sharing information with the people, the policy can create a counter-reaction.

The answer, then, is not speed, but consensus. Every citizen needs to see the real benefits for themselves: less smog, lower operating costs, and a healthier living environment for their children.

In retrospect, every major transition in history began with skepticism. Electric vehicles are no exception. But in the context of a rapidly changing global climate, from storms, floods, droughts to record heat waves, the question is no longer “should we transition?” but “how to transition so that no one is left behind.”

Green transition, after all, is not just about changing fuels, but about changing the way we look at the future. And if Vietnam can do that in a harmonious way, between ideals and reality, between growth and equity, then that green path will lead not only to a cleaner environment, but also to a more civilized and humane society.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chuyen-doi-xanh-tu-xe-may-xang-sang-xe-dien-de-viet-nam-buoc-vao-cuoc-cach-mang-giao-thong-ben-vung-331438.html