The Ministry of Science and Technology has announced the establishment of 11 Vietnamese standards (TCVN) for electric vehicle charging stations, including 9 standards for charging stations and 2 standards for electric vehicle battery swapping.
This information was mentioned in official letter number 149, signed by Minister of Science and Technology Huỳnh Thành Đạt on January 18, responding to the inquiries from voters in Bình Định and letter number 148 addressing voters in Thanh Hóa regarding the system of standards and technical regulations for electric vehicle charging stations. These questions were raised during the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly in November 2023.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and Technology has developed and issued 11 TCVN. These standards were created based on equivalency to the standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Electric vehicle charging station. (Photo: Professional Electrician).
The Ministry of Science and Technology is currently developing 18 standards related to electric vehicle charging stations and associated electrical equipment such as charging heads, charging cables, and electric energy measurement devices for electric vehicle batteries. Additionally, the Ministry is amending and supplementing certain provisions of Circular 23 issued in 2013 regarding measurements for Group 2 vehicles, with the addition of “electric energy measurement devices for electric vehicle batteries.” This amended circular is expected to be issued in 2024.
The letter also noted that in the coming time, the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with other relevant departments, will research and present policies to support investors in developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and encourage consumers to use this type of vehicle.
Currently, there are no policies in Vietnam to support the development of the charging station network, thus the demand from the public has not been met. At a seminar held in November 2023 to promote electric vehicle development, Mr. Phạm Hoài Chung, Deputy Director of the Institute of Transport Strategy and Development, stated that there are currently 20,065 electric cars manufactured, assembled, and imported that have been certified. This number is expected to grow in the future, but the charging station system remains very inadequate.
There are several reasons why the development of charging stations is limited in Vietnam, such as companies having to invest their own funds to build stations at high costs, leading to long payback periods, or the number of electric vehicles not yet booming enough to attract charging station providers. Additionally, there are other social and macroeconomic factors stemming from government policies.
Currently, there are 5 charging standards from Europe, the United States, Japan, China, and a global standard (including Europe, based on the standard developed by Tesla) for two types of AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) charging stations. Experts recommend that the government needs to provide strong support to electric vehicle manufacturers, charging station suppliers, and the public, along with prioritizing charging infrastructure on high-traffic routes. Finally, it is essential to invest in electric grid infrastructure to meet the requirements for expanding charging stations.
