SEOUL -- South Korea's battery manufacturer, Samsung SDI, has entered Viet Nam's electric motorcycle market, capitalizing on the country's transition towards clean-energy transportation. With over 65 million motorcycles registered and operational in Viet Nam as of 2022, the market presents significant opportunities for electric two-wheelers.
Approximately 10 percent of newly registered motorcycles in Viet Nam are powered by battery packs, reflecting a growing trend towards clean-energy alternatives. Consumers are increasingly drawn to electric two-wheelers due to their lower operating costs compared to gasoline-powered bikes. Additionally, the absence of a requirement for a driver's license to operate electric two-wheelers with a maximum speed of under 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour makes them accessible to young students.
However, the adoption of electric bikes is hindered by their limited maximum driving range, typically less than 40 kilometers. While commuters find them suitable, many food delivery and parcel delivery riders, who travel distances of up to 200 kilometers per day, are hesitant to switch.
To address this challenge, Viet Nam is implementing a replaceable battery pack system for electric motorcycles. Battery pack stations, located in major cities, allow bikers to swap their depleted battery packs for fully charged ones for a monthly fee of 890,000 VND ($36.1).
Samsung SDI has announced a partnership with Viet Nam's electric vehicle company, Selex Motors, to supply batteries for their electric motorbikes. "We will provide batteries for Selex Motors' electric motorbikes," a Samsung SDI official told Aju Korea Daily on February 27. Selex Motors will use Samsung SDI's batteries to create battery packs.
The collaboration also aims to enhance Selex Motors' motorcycle battery pack service network, transforming it into Southeast Asia's shared-energy infrastructure. Currently, Selex operates more than 50 battery swap stations across Viet Nam.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
