The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has announced a temporary suspension of the mandatory registration for light electric vehicles (LEVs).
LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza stated during a media interview on Wednesday that the agency is postponing the requirement for LEV users to obtain a driver’s license while the agency is looking into establishing roadworthiness regulations to ensure safety.
Light electric vehicles refer to e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-trikes. These are two-, three-, or four-wheeled vehicles powered by an electric motor. Classifications based on LTO’s Administrative Order No. 2021-039 restrict which roads these LEVs can access, as well as whether drivers need to wear a helmet, obtain a driver’s license, or register the vehicle with the LTO.
The suspension of the registration requirement complies with the Department of Transportation’s directive for the LTO to refrain from issuing regulations that conflict with the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), a law promoting the use of electric vehicles.
Despite the suspension, Mendoza clarified that existing bans on LEVs in major thoroughfares by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would remain. Also, local government unit ordinances banning these vehicles are also not affected by the suspension.
The LTO had initially proposed the registration of e-vehicles during a public consultation in February.