Confusion continues to dog users and sellers of electric tricycles (e-trikes) and electric bicycles (e-bikes) even after the long-delayed ban on their use along major thoroughfares finally took effect on January 2. Despite multiple postponements, many stakeholders remain unclear about what the policy actually covers and how it should be enforced.
Among the unresolved questions: Which models are included in the ban? Which roads are strictly off-limits? Are e-trikes and e-bikes required to be registered? Do operators need driver’s licenses?
Edmund Araga, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), said the uncertainty underscores the need for clear, consistent guidelines from regulators and stronger public education for buyers, users, and dealers.
“What EVAP wants imposed is Administrative Order 2021-039, which was suspended following the enactment of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA),” Araga told Context.PH.
He noted that the order clearly identifies which electric vehicle models are allowed in specific areas, while the Department of Energy has already determined which units require registration.
AO 2021-039, Araga explained, functions as a comprehensive rulebook for classifying, registering, and operating electric vehicles. In contrast, the current ban is a narrow enforcement measure anchored on general traffic laws and road safety concerns, rather than a detailed classification framework.
Under earlier discussions with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), EVAP agreed that e-trikes and e-bikes with motors below 2,000 watts should not be allowed on major roads—and even some secondary roads. This threshold, Araga said, should also guide registration and licensing requirements.
He added that driver’s licenses are now classified according to the type of light electric vehicle (LEV) operated, reflecting evolving LTO rules. EVAP also supports designated zones for different LEV types, stricter dealer oversight, MVIS inspections, and better consumer education—covering not just road safety, but charging risks and operational limits.
In Metro Manila, the ban currently covers EDSA, C-5, Roxas Boulevard, the Quirino Avenue–Magallanes stretch, and the South Luzon Expressway, as identified by the MMDA.
