Easy riders: VinFast offers electric motorcycles amid rising fuel costs

An electric motorcycle could cost less to run than a gasoline-powered one, but the price of the bike is only one part of the decision. Filipino riders also need to know where they can charge it, how much a battery costs and who will handle repairs.

Those questions now sit at the center of VinFast’s plan to expand its Philippine electric motorcycle business. The Vietnamese brand entered the local two-wheel market in July and is trying to win over riders whose daily expenses rise and fall with fuel prices.

Gasoline prices offered another example of this volatility in October. Pump prices rose by P1.56 per liter on 13 October, then fell by P4.30 on 20 October. Such changes can affect workers who depend on motorcycles for regular travel, especially those who cover long distances each week.

Motorcycles already make up a large portion of traffic in Metro Manila. Figures cited by VinFast, based on Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and congressional research data, put the number at more than 1.6 million out of 3.8 million daily vehicles. Heavy traffic is another reason many people choose two wheels over four.

The electric alternative does not change the way most people use a motorcycle. Riders still need a dependable vehicle to get to work or deliver goods. The difference comes in daily expenses and how they replenish the energy they use.

VinFast currently sells three models locally. The Evo starts at P62,900 with a battery subscription. The Feliz II costs P64,900 on the same basis, while the Viper is priced at P73,900. The first two are intended mainly for everyday transport, while the Viper has a sportier design.

Under its battery subscription plan, customers pay P439 per battery each month. A battery swap costs P35, subject to any applicable promotion.

V-Green is responsible for the battery-swapping network, which VinFast plans to expand across the Philippines. Buyers may instead purchase the batteries outright and charge them at home.

Battery access could determine how quickly the motorcycles catch on. Home charging may work well for riders with a suitable outlet, but others will have to rely on swap stations near their homes or workplaces. A nearby service center is just as important when something needs repair.

VinFast reports that it now has 28 dealerships nationwide with after-sales service. Its motorcycles also carry a warranty listed as 4+2 years or 60,000+12,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

The manufacturer estimates that owners could save between P40,000 and P70,000 over five years compared with similar gasoline motorcycles. Actual savings will depend on usage, electricity costs and fuel prices.

The Philippines is part of a wider Asian market where electric two-wheelers are gaining buyers. According to figures cited by VinFast, electric models accounted for nearly 28 percent of motorcycle sales in Vietnam through July.

The manufacturer has produced more than one million electric motorcycles there, while its battery-swapping network has reached over 4,500 stations.

VinFast has also announced plans to install 30,000 battery-swapping cabinets across the Philippines.