Power Supply Network Using Electric Scooters in Vietnam
In Vietnam, where power outages are a daily occurrence, electric scooter users are launching power supply services using the electricity from their own scooters.
Although it is still a small initiative with about 20 people, for the small and medium-sized enterprises/small businesses they support, where uninterrupted power usage is a matter of life and death, I think it is an interesting practical initiative of community x electric mobility.
In Japan, disaster response using V2G is often highlighted, but through this initiative, which is more rooted in daily life, it is expected that [V2G will become a part of daily life] in Vietnam.
1; Power safety net utilizing electric scooters
In Vietnam, power outages occur frequently even in large cities, but most small and medium-sized enterprises/small businesses are not prepared for power outages, and in some cases, products are ruined... Some electric scooter users provide power using their vehicle's charging power, acting as a safety net for the power grid.
The initiative called Re:Charge is a charging service conducted as a grassroots activity by owners of [Dat Bike] electric scooters. [Dat Bike] is a local Vietnamese EV operator established in 2019; although its scale is relatively small, it has an active online community of users. The electric scooters are equipped with batteries of up to 5kW/h, which can be converted to 220V power via a 1kW or 2kW inverter.
*The inverter can operate for 2 hours at full load/4 hours on charge, and can supply power to a small convenience store's lighting & 2 freezers for 3-4 hours.
A user group called ReChargers has set up a hotline for businesses in Ho Chi Minh City, supporting restaurants/cafes/barbershops/retail stores, etc. At present, Re:Charge is an initiative of about 10-20 people, but there are about 3,000 members in the Facebook group, and further expansion is expected. They do not charge businesses for the power supply service, as it is done as part of volunteer work, and they receive ice cream or snacks as a token of appreciation.
2; About Dat Bike
A Vietnamese local electric scooter startup founded in 2019, aiming to realize Made-In-Vietnam products by handling everything from research to development, production, and sales. They are replacing the ICE vehicles that make up the majority in Vietnam with EVs, providing clean and sustainable transportation solutions in Vietnam. They have stores in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, and released a ride-hailing partnership with Gojek last year.
Most recently, in January 2024, they released [DxDragon], a new lineup under the [Quantum] brand, with plans to sell an initial limited run of 100 units for 50 million VND (300,000 JPY).
It features a battery capacity of 7,000W, a top speed of 100km/h, and a 41L trunk, and can travel 270km on a 4-hour charge. In addition to lump-sum payments, they also offer a 24-month installment program, with 0% interest for the time being to lower the hurdle for purchase/ownership (includes a 10-year long-term battery warranty).