Leaders of Cua Lo Town People's Committee dialogue with people about the issue of 4-wheel electric vehicles

Previously, as reported by Nghe An Newspaper, on December 26, 2022, the People's Committee of Cua Lo town issued a plan to manage business activities for 4-wheel electric vehicles carrying tourists in Cua Lo town in 2023. In which, with the existing traffic infrastructure, the town only allows a maximum of 300 electric vehicles. With this plan, the number of4 wheel electric carwill be reduced from the current 558 vehicles to 300 vehicles.

In addition, implementing the provisions of the law, in which based on the provisions of Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security and Circular 86/2014/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport, 4-wheel electric vehicles must be registered and inspected before being allowed to operate. However, after the plan was issued, many households operating electric vehicle services voiced their objections.

Chairman of Cua Lo Town People's Committee Doan Tien Dung chaired the dialogue with the people. Photo: TD

At the dialogue, households operating electric vehicle services also expressed their opinions. Mr. Vo Van Binh, Binh Minh block, Nghi Thuy ward said: At the end of 2022, households have heard the information that they will have to change their vehicles. Most recently, at the end of February 2023, hearing the information that electric vehicles must be inspected before being allowed to operate made people very confused. Because in recent years, the epidemic combined with difficulties in borrowing from banks has made it very difficult for people to manage in a short time. Therefore, Mr. Binh proposed to extend the registration and inspection time for another tourist season (2024). Because in reality, people also understand that if they bring their vehicles for inspection, it will be very difficult to pass. Not to mention that if they buy a new vehicle at this time, they will be forced to pay a higher price by electric vehicle businesses.

Mr. Phan Van Hai, owner of electric car No. 5033, said that in the past, electric cars were managed by the company. Since 2016, households have bought cars themselves and paid taxes in full. When households heard about the restriction on the number of cars, they were very concerned. We propose that the Town People's Committee consider maintaining 558 cars to run on odd-even days rather than 300 cars running a day...

Mr. Phung Minh Hong, in Doan Ket block, Nghi Thuy ward, commented that the time to replace the car is too short, which will create conditions for electric car businesses to take advantage of and raise the price of the car. The amount of money lost when having to sell old cars, while having to spend money to buy new cars is too large. At the same time, he suggested that the Town People's Committee not propose a car pooling plan (2 households sharing 1 car), because it will easily cause conflicts. In addition, the Town People's Committee also needs to have a policy to manage and exploit 4-wheel electric cars, and make that policy public. Not to mention, people are still wondering how that policy will change when Cua Lo town merges into Vinh city?

Some opinions also stated that there is not enough time to replace the vehicles, while the tourist season is approaching; it is proposed to keep the plan for 2022, because in 2020 and 2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the tourism business is facing difficulties. Some opinions also said that the implementation of the plan cannot be delayed, but the time to replace the new vehicles should be extended to September 2023. During the period from now until the end of September 2023, stop signs will be installed and training on communication skills and tour guide skills for people will be conducted...

Up to now, 4-wheel electric vehicles operating in Cua Lo town have not been periodically inspected. Photo: TD

At the meeting, representatives of Nghi Thuy and Thu Thuy wards, where many people operate 4-wheel electric vehicle services, also expressed their opinions that after receiving the town's policy and plan, the local government had fully informed the households. At the same time, it propagated to the people to clearly understand in order to improve the quality of electric vehicle services, create a friendly tourism image, for the common development of the town.

Mr. Vo Van Tuat - Chairman of Nghi Thuy Ward People's Committee said: On October 20, 2022, after the Town People's Committee notified the wards, propagating people not to buy more 4-wheel electric vehicles, the ward also disseminated to households. The ward even held a meeting to deploy and develop the operating regulations of the electric vehicle association. However, up to now, the establishment of the association is temporarily suspended pending the completion of the electric vehicle conversion plan to be established.

Mr. Hoang Nang Hiep - Head of Urban Management Department - People's Committee of Cua Lo town, said: Implementing Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security and Circular 86/2014/TT-BGTVT of the Ministry of Transport, departments and branches have also provided instructions on registration and inspection. In particular, on April 28, 2021, the People's Committee of the town also issued Document No. 565/UBND-DT discussing the plan to replace 4-wheel electric vehicles in the area and sent it to the wards to inform the people. The town also sent a document to the wards to propagate people not to buy new vehicles in order to keep the current number of 558 vehicles.

Many electric vehicles in Cua Lo Town have been operating for many years but do not meet technical safety and environmental protection standards, while electric vehicles must undergo periodic inspections. Only when they meet the standards are they allowed to operate. Photo: TD

Mr. Hiep also emphasized that information about replacing cars has been around for a long time, and people have not only recently learned about it. At this point, compliance with legal regulations on technical safety and environmental protection cannot be delayed. In fact, despite information about restricting the sale of electric cars, many households still buy and sell "disguised" cars worth hundreds of millions of dong.

In early April, the town will organize a training course on communication culture for electric car drivers so that each resident can become a tour guide. After the training, they will be tested to be allowed to operate.

Mr. Hoang Nang Hiep - Head of Urban Management Department, People's Committee of Cua Lo town

From the perspective of the agency responsible for ensuring security, order and traffic safety in the area, Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Head of Cua Lo Town Police, said: The documents issued by the Town Party Committee and the Town People's Committee have been thoroughly disseminated to all agencies and departments. After more than 10 years of piloting electric vehicle business, the town has gradually removed the difficulties and obstacles that electric vehicles encounter. At this point, it is impossible to delay the proper implementation of regulations on registration and inspection of electric vehicles.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thi Thu Thuy: Every year, electric vehicles violate many regulations, and the police are the unit that handles them. Currently, if we want to change the face of Cua Lo tourism to be civilized and modern, it is necessary to strictly manage this type of vehicle.

Concluding the dialogue, Mr. Doan Tien Dung - Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town once again emphasized that since 2010, in order to adapt to development conditions, the town has requested a pilot policy for electric vehicles in enterprises, and by 2015 had to adjust, bringing electric vehicles back to the people for self-management. Since then, the number of electric vehicles has increased every year, causing difficulties for the town in management, especially since every year it has to submit a request for adjustment from the Provincial People's Committee.

"Currently, the provisions of the law have been issued, and compliance with those provisions must be carried out. The Chairman of the Town People's Committee does not have the authority to decide whether vehicles that do not pass inspection can still operate," Mr. Dung affirmed.

At this dialogue, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town also assigned responsibilities to the wards. In the process of implementing Plan No. 02/PA-UBND on managing business activities of 4-wheel electric vehicles carrying tourists in Cua Lo town in 2023, if there are any problems, they must guide the people to implement them, in order to ensure compliance with the set plan.