Innovation in Electrochemical Systems for Transportation

Thu Hằng, Co-founder & CEO of Wiibike

Concerns about Sustainable Development
Although I currently work in the green transportation sector, my background is in banking. My journey into research and business related to electric-assist bicycles has been both a matter of opportunity and a long-held aspiration. While working as a banker, I always held an interest in sustainable development and often pondered my future career path over the next ten years: “In the next decade, what will I be doing? What will I contribute? Will I remain in the banking sector?”
Fond of places with clean, fresh air and lush greenery, my family and I once considered moving away from the dusty, hectic urban environment to settle in a more tranquil area. However, I decided that, rather than relocating to a cleaner place, I could contribute to the development of green transportation, improving the environmental quality of the place where we already live.
After a long day of work, I ride my Wiibike home and feel enriched in terms of both time and spirit. I experience happiness returning home to my family in a relaxed state, cycling for exercise rather than enduring the stress and exhaustion of traffic jams. The electric-assist bike optimizes my commuting time, allowing me to balance my physical well-being. I’ve come to see how this type of bicycle fosters healthy habits while providing numerous physical and mental benefits to users. To me, Wiibike represents a mission and an exploration of my passion for new challenges. It allows me to create positive impacts on both lifestyles and the environment.

The Drive to Start a Green Bicycle Business
Today, many countries and businesses aim for the highest possible growth, but if economic benefits are prioritized at the expense of environmental concerns, nature will suffer, and human lifestyles will become caught up in a fast-paced, unbalanced rhythm with insufficient physical activity. I was once caught in that fast-paced, pressured lifestyle—overly absorbed in work and not dedicating enough time to relaxation, exercise, or health.
In Vietnam, approximately 60,000 deaths each year are linked to air pollution, and cities like Hanoi have ranked among the most polluted in the world. The primary source of urban emissions is traffic, with motorcycles being the predominant polluters. Electric bicycles are considered a safer alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles. However, lead-acid batteries used in many electric bicycles can pose serious environmental and health risks when disposed of improperly. So, are we truly pursuing sustainable development when such issues persist?
These concerns drove me to develop Vietnam’s first electric-assist bicycle, a mode of transportation that allows individuals to make the most of their commuting time by balancing life, relaxing the mind, and promoting physical health.

Challenges and Difficulties
After ten years in finance, I made the unexpected shift to an entirely new field, where challenges and difficulties were inevitable—especially since this product was still quite unfamiliar to Vietnamese consumers.
Starting from zero, my team at Wiibike and I spent two years researching and developing a fully made-in-Vietnam electric-assist bicycle. However, we faced countless obstacles in bringing the product to market and into consumers’ hands. Many people were still unfamiliar with the concept of an electric-assist bicycle. They didn’t understand how it differed from a regular bicycle or an electric bike. Some even confused lithium-ion batteries with lead-acid batteries.

As the leader of a young company with limited resources, I had to manage numerous tasks, sometimes staying at the office until 1 a.m. to gather customer data. Despite these challenges, I still made time each day to exercise on the very bicycle my company produced. The commute from home to work became more than just travel; it turned into moments of relaxation for me.
For me, the most important aspect of this journey is building a team that shares the goal of contributing to green transportation and fostering a sustainable business. “In this pioneering journey, we are not alone. Everyone who values health and sustainable happiness is our companion.”
Thu Hằng – Bachelor of Marketing, National Economics University (NEU) with 10 years of experience in marketing and business development in the finance and banking sectors. She has participated in strategic initiatives and digital transformation projects at Techcombank.