District 1 is the most bustling commercial and service center in Ho Chi Minh City, with expensive and limited land. The solution for electric vehicle charging stations for businesses, parking lots, and central apartments - along with a revenue-sharing model for premises owners.
District 1 is the most bustling commercial, service, and tourist center in Ho Chi Minh City: from Ben Thanh Market, Nguyen Hue walking street to thousands of shops, restaurants, and offices packed together. The characteristic here is expensive and limited land - unlike the outer districts with ample space to install large-scale charging stations. This article analyzes the area's characteristics, the actual demand for electric vehicle charging, and the suitable EVsafe solution for small, expensive premises in District 1.
Note on administrative boundaries: According to the 2025-2026 administrative unit arrangement, Ho Chi Minh City has abolished the district/county level, reorganizing into wards/communes directly under the city. "District 1" in this article is used in the familiar and old territorial sense for easy reference, not the current official administrative unit name.
Characteristics of District 1
District 1 is the central administrative and commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, including familiar areas like Ben Nghe, Ben Thanh, Da Kao, Cau Ong Lanh, Nguyen Cu Trinh (according to the old territorial names). Some characteristics that shape the demand for charging stations here:
- Extremely high density of shops, restaurants, and offices per square meter of facade - areas around Nguyen Hue, Dong Khoi, Le Loi, Ben Thanh Market are always crowded with passing customers traveling by motorbike.
- Apartments and serviced apartments focused in Da Kao, Cau Ong Lanh, Nguyen Cu Trinh areas - mainly mid-scale apartments or rental serviced apartments, with not many large compounds like in Binh Thanh or District 7.
- Expensive premises, small area - unlike districts in the suburbs, premises in District 1 rarely have large yards or sidewalks, with many places having only a few square meters in front of the store or in alleys.
- Public parking lots and office building parking areas play a crucial role because the density of personal vehicles flowing into the city center on working days is very large, while the parking area on site is limited.
Demand for electric motorcycle charging in District 1
In the central area, the demand for electric motorcycle charging comes from two main groups: office employees/store staff who go to work every day, and casual customers/tourists who travel by rented or personal electric motorcycles. The specific problem is:
- Front-line stores and restaurants do not have their own yards, customers park their vehicles on the sidewalk or in nearby parking lots but there are no charging points - while customers who stay for a long time (dining, shopping) are the ideal time to charge their vehicles.
- Apartment buildings and serviced apartments in the Da Kao, Cau Ong Lanh areas have limited parking basement space, making it difficult to arrange separate charging infrastructure for each apartment.
- Public parking lots and office building parking areas have not yet integrated charging stations, while the number of vehicles parked during office hours is very large and stable.
EVsafe solution by type of premises in District 1
Since the premises in District 1 are commonly small and expensive, EVsafe prioritizes the space-optimizing solution:
| Loại mặt bằng | Đặc điểm tại Quận 1 | Giải pháp EVsafe |
|---|---|---|
| Hộ kinh doanh mặt tiền (cửa hàng, quán ăn, quán café) | Diện tích nhỏ, thường chỉ vài m² trước cửa | Trạm sạc xe máy điện cho hộ kinh doanh |
| Bãi đỗ xe công cộng, bãi giữ xe toà văn phòng | Lượng khách gửi xe theo giờ hành chính lớn, ổn định | Trạm sạc xe máy điện cho bãi đỗ xe |
| Chung cư, căn hộ dịch vụ (Đa Kao, Cầu Ông Lãnh) | Hầm xe diện tích hạn chế, cần bố trí tối ưu | Trạm sạc xe máy điện cho chung cư |
With just a few square meters of space, EVsafe can install compact charging stations that utilize corner walls or vacant spaces near sidewalks - no need for large areas like those in suburban districts.
Revenue-sharing model for property owners in District 1
With a high volume of transient customers and dense traffic, properties in District 1 have the potential to achieve a good number of charging sessions per station despite their small size. There are two cooperation models:
- Property owners invest in equipment themselves: the owner receives 90% of the revenue, while EVsafe receives 10%.
- EVsafe invests in all equipment: the owner does not need to invest capital, and receives 40% of the revenue, while EVsafe receives 60%.
Illustrative figures (not a commitment of revenue): a 10-port charging station, with an average of ~25 charging sessions per day, at a price of ~4,000đ per session → estimated gross revenue of ~3 million đồng per month per station. With a self-invested storefront property, the owner can receive approximately 2.7 million đồng per month - a significant additional income on just a few square meters in front of the store. With the EVsafe investment model, the owner can receive around 1.2 million đồng per month without initial capital investment, suitable for small properties that want to test the waters first. The actual figures depend on customer traffic and specific location, which will be surveyed before cooperation.
EVsafe charging station in District 1
District 1 is in the area of TP.HCM where EVsafe is expanding its charging network, prioritizing central locations with high customer traffic. If you own a storefront, manage a parking lot, or a condominium in the Bến Nghé, Bến Thành, Đa Kao, Cầu Ông Lãnh, or Nguyễn Cư Trinh area, please register for a survey soon to be prioritized in the scheduling.
Frequently asked questions
Can a charging station be installed on a floor area of just a few square meters?
Yes. EVsafe has a compact charging pole solution suitable for small floor areas, commonly found in the center of District 1. The survey team will consult on the location and number of charging ports suitable for the actual area.
Does the cost of renting a location affect the revenue-sharing model?
No. The revenue-sharing ratio (90/10 or 40/60) applies equally to all areas, without additional fees based on the value of the location. The location owner only needs to have a legally permitted area for installing the charging pole.
Is a separate legal procedure required to install a charging station on the sidewalk?
Yes, depending on the specific location (within a private compound or adjacent to a public sidewalk). The EVsafe survey team will check the actual conditions and consult on a suitable plan in accordance with current regulations before installation.
Is the charging station suitable for restaurants/cafes that are open all day and night?
Yes. The system operates continuously 24/7 with automatic monitoring, suitable for locations with customers coming and going all day, such as in the center of District 1.
Register for a survey
Do you have a location in District 1 - a store, restaurant, parking lot, apartment building - and want to know how many charging poles can be installed and what the estimated revenue will be? Register for a free survey at evsafe.io/partner.
