Traffic police lack clarity about rules governing EVs

HYDERABAD: With more and more people opting for electric vehicles (EVs), the Telangana traffic police is subject to huge challenges when it comes to enforcing rules in the absence of clarity and clear-cut guidelines, leading to a more lenient approach towards EV owners and users.

Shashank, a motorist from Basheerbagh, said “I saw police stop drivers of almost all vehicles on the road but not those driving electric vehicles. When I asked one of them, pat came the officer’s reply, ‘They’re EV’s’. I feel they assume that the speed of all EVs is less than 25 kmph and they let them go.”

A driving license is mandatory for everyone riding E-bikes and electric scooters. Only electric two-wheelers with a maximum speed of 25 kmph and less than 250W power can be used without a driving licence.

As per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, electric vehicles are assigned a green background number plate with white letters. However, electric two-wheelers with less than 250W power and a maximum speed of 25 kmph, do not require RTO registration or HSRP. It is only these vehicles that can be used by those in the 16-18 years age-group.

A traffic police official said that they do not have proper exposure to the rules regarding electric vehicles. The official suggested that the department must organise training sessions to improve their understanding of EV regulations.