With the rapid increase in electric vehicle usage in Vietnam, the Ministry of Industry has proposed new regulations aimed at enhancing the standards for electric vehicle charging stations. These regulations, which are set to be implemented by July 2027, focus on ensuring transparency in electricity billing, data protection, and operational safety.

The draft circular outlines national technical standards for charging stations, emphasizing the need for clear measurement and payment processes. For charging stations that charge fees, the equipment must publicly display the amount of electricity consumed, the unit price, service fees, and the total amount due from customers. Additionally, payment data must be stored securely to ensure traceability.

Public charging stations will be required to monitor their operational status and energy parameters while ensuring that data is stored, backed up, and protected against tampering. The management of accounts and operations within the system must also be controlled and recorded.

Safety requirements are a crucial aspect of the proposed regulations. These include emergency disconnection features, grounding, and protections against issues such as overcurrent, short circuits, and leakage currents. The power supply system must be calculated to match usage capacity and allow for future expansion.

Notably, high-capacity charging points must implement load management solutions and automatically adjust power levels to mitigate the risk of overloading the electrical system. Currently, requirements for charging stations are scattered across various regulations concerning electricity, construction, fire safety, and data measurement. The establishment of specific standards aims to unify these minimum technical requirements, providing a solid foundation for managing and developing electric vehicle charging systems.

The proposed standards will apply to charging stations located in public areas, centralized parking facilities, rest stops, and similar locations. Charging stations within residential buildings, apartments, shopping centers, or indoor parking lots will continue to adhere to existing construction and fire safety regulations.

For charging equipment, domestically produced products must comply with the new regulations before being marketed, while imported equipment must undergo quality checks as per regulations. Management of all charging stations will focus on design, installation, acceptance, and operational conditions rather than requiring compliance certification for the entire station.

The circular is expected to take effect on July 1, 2027. Charging stations that have already been produced, imported, or circulated before this date will be allowed to continue their operations and installations for 12 months, while legally installed stations can be used until the end of their operational lifespan.