LTO: AO on electric vehicles still not in effect

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified yesterday that an administrative order (AO) it issued requiring licensed drivers and the registration of electric bicycles and tricycles that will be driven on all public roads nationwide is still not in effect pending its publication.

While the AO has been signed by transport officials, it will only be in effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation, according to the LTO.

AO VDM-2024-044 set the guidelines on regulating light electric vehicles (EVs) and is supposed to take effect as early as next month.

It was signed on Feb. 21 and was received by the University of the Philippines Law Center on March 7 but has yet to be published. The LTO said that there is no effective date yet.

The newly released order amended previous policies and added a provision that will require all EVs used and operated on public highways to be registered.

Only light electric vehicles that will be used on private roads such as subdivisions will not be required to register.

Under the order, motorists who use EVs on public roads should also bear a valid driver’s license and wear helmets similar to those designed for motorcycle riders under Republic Act 10054 or the Helmet Law.

The LTO order comes after the Metro Manila Council issued a resolution outlining the rules and regulations that govern the use of e-bicycles, e-tricycles, kuliglig and e-scooters, including imposition of fines last month.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also issued Regulation 24-022 series of 2024 that bans e-vehicles along major roads.

Violators face a P2,500 fine when caught traversing these roads and their EV will be impounded.