It said that preferential electricity prices for EVs would encourage the use of the vehicle.

EVs could help reduce pollution in urban areas, but the price for electricity is high. If charging EVs at home, the electricity prices are VND3,100-3,200/Kwh and if charging at service points, an additional VND3,100/kWh more is needed. 

Such a pricing scheme cannot encourage the use of EVs, change users’ behaviors or encourage use of charging at low-peak hours, VCCI said.

VCCI has cited examples of developed countries as saying that power companies in countries have begun applying price packages for EVs. It asked to consider specific prices for a group of clients using EVs.

The electricity prices for this group of customers should differ, including price levels for rush hours, low-peak hours and medium usage. The method will encourage people to charge their vehicles in low peak hours.

VCCI also suggested that it would be better to apply a two-element price mechanism (capacity price and electrical energy price) for this group of customers.

It stressed that the two-element electricity price mechanism should be promoted. However, the draft still doesn’t include a measure to reach that goal. VCCI wants the compilation team to give more detailed regulations on the pricing mechanism.

It said the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) could design a roadmap on piloting a two-element electricity pricing mechanism. In the areas where the pilot program is applied, customers can choose either the normal mechanism or two-element mechanism. 

This will help speed up implementation and avoid legal bottlenecks after power companies are capable of implementing the mechanism.

Developing EVs is a business strategy that some automobile manufacturers are pursuing. Some companies have introduced EVs to domestic consumers, but only VinFast is developing public charging stations and an ecosystem to serve users. It is estimated that there are 3,000 EVs on streets, mostly VF e34 and VF8.

Tran Thuy