The Land Transportation Office organized a “very fruitful” industry consultation meeting at the Bulwagang Edu inside its compound at East Avenue recently to discuss and clarify registration and regulations for electric vehicles.
The LTO presented its procedures and guidelines in registering electric vehicles. This is in the heels of a recent LTO crackdown on electric two-wheelers that were not registered due to the numerous accidents reported when said vehicles plied highways and busy streets.
The LTO clarified that only vehicles run by muscular effort or are manually propelled can be exempted from registration and regulation. Thus, all electric vehicles are considered motor vehicles therefore requiring registration and regulation by the LTO.
Present in the dialogue were officers of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines led by president Rommel Juan and VP Edmund Araga. EVAP members EV Wealth Inc. Tojo Motors, Bemac, Eliah Green, Le Guider, BYD, Kea Industrial Corp., AET and various other individual members were also there. Also in attendance were representatives from different electric bicycle, scooter and motorcycle dealers and distributors.
Juan reveals that EVAP members who can register their vehicles because they have the proper permits and documentations on hand reached out to the EBike companies so that they might work together and help register all their EBikes, EScooters and EMotorcycles.
“We also gave suggestions to the LTO on how registrations may be streamlined. And we are elated that LTO responded positively and said they will consider our suggestions. Finally, we have an LTO that is proactively consulting and communicating with the industry and its users.”
Araga said the electric vehicle industry welcomes this initiative of the LTO so that EV registration can be made easier. “Electric vehicles are the future of the automotive industry and the Philippines is on the right track. We thank LTO chief Undersecretary Edgar Galvante for giving special attention to this nagging issue and helping us tread closer to our goal of a greener transport system in the Philippines.”