As the electric vehicle revolution spreads its wings in India, many ask a question: ‘what are the RTO regulations for riding an electric two-wheeler?’
The answer depends on the type of electric two-wheeler you own.
Electric two-wheelers (scooters & motorcycles) with motors that produce less than 250 watts of power and have a top speed less than 25 km/hr are referred to as ‘electric bicycles’. Present RTO regulations exempt these electric bicycles from registration. More details below.
Any electric two-wheeler with a maximum power output of 250 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/hr :
- Does not require a driver’s license.
- Does not require a number plate.
- Can be driven by people 16 years of age and older.
- Does not have to be registered with the RTO.
- Does not require insurance.
- Does not require a helmet. (However, EVJoints strongly advises you to wear one for safety).
For all other electric two-wheelers (with power output more than 250 watts and speed exceeding 25 km/hr), all rules pertaining to petrol-run scooters & motorcycles apply. Also, electric two-wheelers with power output more than 250 watts and top speed more than 25 km/hr need to have a High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) with a green background and numbers written in white.
There are many OEMs in India that have such low speed electric two-wheelers in their portfolio. Mobility-as-a-service providers like Zypp Electric & Yulu also provide such vehicles for last-mile connectivity. Let’s have a look at the top 5 such E2Ws:
Okinawa Lite:
The Lite is a low-speed electric scooter from Okinawa. It features a 1.25 kWh detachable battery which gives a range of 60 km. The battery gets fully-charged in 4-5 hours via a micro-charger that comes with the vehicle. The top speed is 25 km/hr. The scooter is available in 5 colour options. Features include all-LED lights, aluminium alloy wheels, push start on/off & mobile charging USB port.
The Okinawa Lite is priced at Rs 75,000.
Ampere Reo Li Plus:
The Reo Li Plus from Ampere is a low speed electric scooter. It features a 1.3 kWh removable battery which gives a range of 70 km. The battery gets fully-charged in 5-6 hours via a portable charger that comes with the vehicle. It comes in 4 colour options. The top speed is 25 km/hr. Features include all-LED lights, USB charger for mobile and longer leg room.
The Ampere Reo Li Plus is priced at Rs 70,000.
Hero Electric Atria LX:
The Atria LX is a low speed electric scooter from Hero Electric. It features a 1.54 kWh battery which gives a range of 85 km. The battery takes 4-5 hours to fully charge via a portable charger that comes with the vehicle. The top speed is 25 km/hr. It is available in two colours. Features include daytime running lights, cruise control and digital instrument panel.
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The Hero Electric Atria LX is priced at Rs 77,690.
Hero Electric Flash LX:
The Flash LX is another low speed scooter from Hero Electric. It features a 1.54 kWh battery which gives a range of 85 km. The battery takes 4-5 hours to fully charge. The battery is detachable which can be removed and charged anywhere. The top speed is 25 km/hr. It is available in two colours. Features include LED headlamp and digital instrument panel. However, it does not have cruise control like the Atria LX.
The Hero Electric Flash LX is priced at Rs 59,640.
Yulu Wynn:
The Yulu Wynn is an electric bike which has been manufactured by Bajaj Auto. It features a 1 kWh LFP battery which offers a range of around 60 km. The top speed is 24.9 km/hr. It features app-enabled access control, which makes it keyless. This allows the owner to share access to the vehicle with family & friends remotely, via the Yulu app. It comes in two colours. Battery subscription plans are also available. The batteries can be swapped at Yuma Energy Stations in 1 minute. Yuma battery swapping stations are currently available in 3 cities: Bengaluru, Mumbai & Delhi. The battery swapping system offers freedom from charging and saves time. However, the owner can charge the battery at home as well (in 4 hours).
For vehicle servicing, owners can raise a request on the Yulu app. A company official will pick-up the vehicle, take it to the service centre and deliver the serviced vehicle back.
The Yulu Wynn is priced at Rs 55,555.
Conclusion:
The rules & regulations governing the registration of electric two-wheelers in India are somewhat complex. However, by following the points outlined in this article, you can ensure that you are riding your vehicle legally & safely. And we at EVJoints request you to always wear a helmet while riding. A helmet on your head can save you from the hospital bed.
