Vietnam boasts a staggering number of e-scooters, with hundreds of thousands in circulation, yet struggles to ensure a reliable energy supply. In a surprising twist, some Vietnamese residents are leveraging their e-scooters to stabilize the national power grid and support local businesses in avoiding blackouts.
In Vietnam’s bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s most populous urban center, frequent power outages are a common occurrence. While scheduled outages are typically planned ahead of time, unexpected power outages can still occur regularly, affecting various parts of the town on a weekly basis.
Small businesses in Vietnam, including individual proprietorships running small outlets or food stalls, often lack the resources to invest in backup power generators, making it challenging for them to continue operating during outages.
A pioneering band of e-scooter enthusiasts is tackling the challenge head-on, harnessing the power of large batteries carried in their vehicles to provide a mobile solution.
The Re:Cost initiative was born out of a grassroots movement spearheaded by homeowners of Dat Bike e-scooters. Dat Bike, a popular Vietnamese brand, debuted in 2019 and may be considered a relatively unknown entity globally, yet it has managed to build a devoted online community among its enthusiasts.
The Dat Bike team collaborates on a compelling video highlighting the challenges faced by their community.
So far, the Re:Cost initiative has primarily been driven by approximately 10 early adopters, but they aim to expand its reach, communicate their vision, and engage a larger audience.
Organizers have established a dedicated hotline for native businesses in Ho Chi Minh City, which has already supported several eateries, bakeries, and clothing stores, as well as a tattoo parlor and a grocery store.
As a key contributor in this collaborative endeavour, Re:Chargers hasn’t sought to charge other businesses for their involvement; instead, the primary goal has been to provide support and assistance. As a reward for their diligent efforts to preserve the ice cream, employees are delighted to receive complimentary treats from the self-service freezers.
The Dat Bike e-scooter is equipped with a substantial 5 kWh battery and will be matched with either a 1 kW or 2 kW inverter, allowing it to seamlessly integrate with a standard 220-volt power source. These inverters can operate for approximately four hours at full capacity and on a fully charged battery each, making them suitable for powering, say, lights and two freezers in a small retail store, providing sufficient energy for three to four hours of operation.
The group promotes its initiatives through a Vietnamese-language Facebook page and TikTok account, aiming to attract more supporters to join their cause.
Electrek’s Take
While the initial effort was modest, and the audience in this rural area wasn’t extensive, when a compelling story was pitched to me via email, my curiosity got the better of me.
Not only does this enjoyable story represent a collaborative effort supporting small businesses in need, but it also highlights the tangible benefits of electric vehicles.
While concerns about power outages often surround electric vehicles, this instance showcases how EVs can actually provide a crucial solution during blackouts.
In previous calamities, electric vehicles have demonstrated exceptional resilience, utilizing their built-in power supplies to support flood relief efforts. While the Dat Bikers may suggest that a massive 98kWh battery is necessary to address concerns, a relatively modest 5kWh battery could actually provide sufficient power for specific tasks.
As the adoption of electric vehicles continues to gain momentum, the emergence of advanced charging technologies like bidirectional charging, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2L), and Vehicle-to-Home (V2G) could soon become ubiquitous, offering a substantial competitive edge for EVs.
