Cua Lo Town: Improving the efficiency of electric vehicle management associated with building civilized tourism

To meet the demand for tourist transportation, on May 4, 2011, the Prime Minister issued a decision allowing Cua Lo town to pilot an electric car investment project to serve tourists. The number of pilot cars from June 6, 2011 to June 6, 2014 was 110 cars. However, after the pilot period, by January 1, 2015, the number of electric cars had increased to 447 cars. And the number of electric cars in the area has continued to increase every year, up to the present time is 558 cars.

The sudden increase in the number of electric vehicles while the traffic infrastructure is still limited has the potential to affect traffic safety, urban civilization, and the tourism brand of Cua Lo in particular and Nghe An in general. The People's Committee of Cua Lo town also determined that, based on the current traffic infrastructure and the actual needs of tourists, about 250 vehicles operating in the town each day is enough.

Electric cars are suitable for serving tourists, but the explosion in the number of cars in recent times has greatly affected the traffic safety situation in Cua Lo town. Photo: Tien Dong

In fact, in recent years, Cua Lo Town has continuously sent documents discussing plans to replace 4-wheel electric vehicles in the area to the wards to inform the people. At the same time, there are documents sent to the wards to propagate people not to buy new vehicles in order to keep the number of 558 vehicles unchanged.

Regarding the management of electric vehicles, on March 14, 2019, implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee, the Nghe An Department of Transport issued a document requesting Cua Lo town to strengthen the propaganda, dissemination and implementation of legal regulations on the operation of electric vehicles.4 wheel electric car. Proactively advise on solutions to thoroughly handle electric vehicles without documents proving their origin and without sufficient legal procedures for registration and inspection.

The Department of Transport also requested the People's Committee of Cua Lo town to urgently issue and implement regulations on the management of 4-wheel electric vehicles in accordance with the provisions of law, especially based on Circular 86/2014/TT-BGTVT regulating the conditions for 4-wheel motorized passenger vehicles and drivers participating in traffic within the limited scope of the Ministry of Transport.

On April 23, 2020, the Department of Transport continued to issue a document requesting to strengthen the management of 4-wheel electric vehicles carrying tourists in Cua Lo town. The vehicles put into operation must fully meet the conditions of technical safety, environmental protection and be registered according to the provisions of Circular 15 on vehicle registration of the Ministry of Public Security and Circular 86 of the Ministry of Transport.

Cua Lo Town People's Committee dialogues with 4-wheel electric vehicle owners. Photo: D.C.

Mr. Hoang Nang Hiep - Head of the Urban Management Department of Cua Lo Town said: “Although the Department of Transport has issued directives, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism business activities have been stagnant, so the tightening of electric vehicle management has not been implemented. Therefore, on December 26, 2022, the Town People's Committee issued plan No. 02 on the management and business activities of 4-wheel electric vehicles in the area. In which, with the existing traffic infrastructure, the town only allows a maximum of 300 electric vehicles", Mr. Hiep emphasized.

By December 30, 2022, the People's Committee of Cua Lo town issued a decision to promulgate the Regulations on the management of 4-wheel electric vehicles operating in business and transporting tourists in Cua Lo town in 2023. Accompanying that are documents guiding the implementation roadmap.

In particular, to be eligible to issue operating licenses for electric vehicles in the area, the People's Committee of Cua Lo town has planned to organize 2 training courses and exams to issue certificates for drivers. The courses will be held over 2 days, April 4 and 5, 2023, with the aim of providing basic knowledge and skills in communication and behavior towards tourists for the electric vehicle drivers team... This is a mandatory requirement that electric vehicle drivers must comply with, otherwise they will not be granted certificates and will not be allowed to operate.

Regarding this issue, according to Major Tran Van Ngoc - Head of the Traffic Police Team, Cua Lo Town Police, affirmed: After more than 10 years of piloting electric vehicle business, the town has gradually removed difficulties and obstacles in the operation of this vehicle. At this point, it is impossible to prolong the implementation of regulations on registration and inspection of electric vehicles. Therefore, we will strictly handle vehicles that do not meet the conditions for circulation, without exception.

Obviously, tightening the management of 4-wheel electric vehicles for tourism in Cua Lo town is a mandatory issue. This is also a premise for the Provincial People's Committee to apply in some other areas, especially at tourist destinations with many visitors. Because currently, traffic congestion at tourist attractions often occurs. According to the general trend, large tourist vehicles will gradually have to park far away so that tourists can transfer by electric vehicles to tourist destinations on the itinerary. If the management is not done well, it will certainly be difficult to apply in other locations in the future.