electric mobility – TYPiNG ouT oF THe BLue

Update (Dec 1, 2025): According to a recent Philstar report, the planned e-bike/e-trike ban/impound on national roads has been reset to January. This postponement underscores the uncertain and changing nature of enforcement—reinforcing that current rules remain unclear, and that riders still face legal ambiguity.

The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act—better known as EVIDA Law—is Republic Act 11697. Signed in April 2022, it aims to grow the electric vehicle industry, build charging networks, and move the country toward cleaner transport.

It was never meant to punish people who rely on e-bikes. And that’s where the confusion begins.

1. What the EVIDA Law actually is

EVIDA’s purpose is simple: develop the EV industry in the Philippines. It does not:

ban e-bikes
require e-bike registration
mention major roads
create penalties
authorize impound

EVIDA focuses on:

charging stations
tax incentives
EV-only parking
government EV fleet transition
manufacturing support
long-term clean mobility planning

Even its 2022 IRR stays within that scope—no bans, no restrictions, and no penalties aimed at e-bikes.
There is nothing in EVIDA that prohibits e-bikes or e-trikes from being used.

2. So why are people reacting to a ban?

Because LTO publicly announced that e-bikes and e-trikes will be impounded if found on major roads starting December 1.
The announcement used broad terms—“e-bikes” and “e-trikes”—without mentioning classes, wattage, speed categories, or wheel count.

This caused the public to assume that:

the rule is nationwide
all electric vehicles are included
EVIDA is the basis
every e-bike will be stopped

In reality, the announcement lacks definitions, cites no classification standards, and does not refer to any supporting city ordinance—creating a legally unclear and challengeable enforcement scenario.

3. The legal reality

EVIDA does not:

ban e-bikes
classify them
mention allowed roads
authorize impound

Existing rules come from:

LTO — classifications + operating guidelines
MMDA — Metro Manila enforcement
LGUs — must issue ordinances for penalties

The true classification framework is LTO Administrative Order 2021-039, which defines e-bike classes and the roads they can use — but even AO 2021-039 does not impose a blanket ban.

LTO can regulate how e-bikes operate — but cannot eliminate them.
LGUs may regulate locally — but only through valid ordinances with due process.

4. Why is the Dec 1 enforcement unclear?

The Dec 1 plan has several major gaps:

1. No classifications were mentioned

The announcement never said if it covers Class A, B, C, D, speed-based groups, wattage groups, or 2/3/4-wheel EVs.
This leaves 4-wheel light EVs, NEVs, and golf-cart-style EVs in a legal gray zone.

2. No LGU ordinances exist

Without a city ordinance, there is:

no defined local violation
no published penalty
no legal basis to impound

3. National enforcement requires clear definitions

Agencies cannot impound a vehicle they did not define. Vague announcements are not a legal foundation.

4. Media headlines amplified the fear

Almost all major news outlets reported the announcement, but none clarified classifications, exemptions, or legal prerequisites.

The deeper problem remains: poor road planning, weak bike lane networks, and unreliable transport systems — yet the easiest target becomes the e-bike rider.
It’s like the roof is leaking… and they blame the bucket.

5. The truth about impounding

There is no national law that allows automatic impound of e-bikes simply for entering a major road.

Not EVIDA.
Not its IRR.
Not AO 2021-039.

To legally impound, a city must have:

a valid ordinance
a clearly defined violation
a published penalty
proper due process

None of these exist for Dec 1.

Even if an ordinance existed, impound is valid only for real violations — wrong class for the road, no helmet (when required), reckless driving, no lights, no brakes, or obstruction.

What is not valid: “You are an e-bike — impound.”
Existence is not a violation.

6. What EVIDA actually wants

EVIDA supports:

cleaner mobility
more transport options
lower fuel dependence
less pollution
a future-ready transport system

Banning or impounding e-bikes goes directly against this goal.

7. Where the real problem starts

EVIDA is written for the future.
The Dec 1 announcement reacts to the present.
And the present is messy.

Instead of asking, “How do we make e-bikes safer?”
The reaction becomes, “How do we remove them so we don’t have to deal with them?”

8. Real-world impact

Workers lose mobility
Deliveries slow down
Low-income families struggle
Climate-friendly commuting weakens
Traffic remains unchanged
Enforcement looks strict, but nothing improves

The enforcement targets the symptom — not the cause.

Final Clarification: Can LTO bypass EVIDA?

No.
LTO cannot override EVIDA, and it cannot create bans or penalties that the law itself does not contain.

EVIDA does not ban e-bikes.
It does not restrict them on major roads.
It does not authorize impound.

Announcements can sound absolute — but agencies must still follow:

the law (RA 11697 – EVIDA)
the IRR
LTO AO 2021-039
LGU ordinances
due process

Without these, a December 1 enforcement may be loudly announced, but it remains legally weak.
Rules cannot bypass the law — no matter how confidently they are reported.

Sources

Legal & Government:
• Republic Act 11697 (EVIDA Law)
• EVIDA IRR (2022)
• Department of Energy (DOE) – Implementing agency
• Senate Committee on Energy – EVIDA deliberations (2022)
• House Committee on Energy TWG (2023)
• LTO Administrative Order 2021-039
• MMDA press statements
• Metro Manila LGU ordinance databases
• Supreme Court jurisprudence on administrative overreach
• Older, non-EV-specific transportation laws (e.g., RA 4136) were intentionally excluded due to lack of relevance to micro-mobility and inconsistent application in modern EV regulation.

News Reports:
• Inquirer.net – “LTO to impound e-bikes, e-trikes on major roads starting Dec 1”
• Manila Bulletin – “LTO, MMDA to start apprehending e-bikes on major roads December 1”
• Philstar.com – “LTO: E-bikes, e-trikes banned on national roads starting December 1”
• ABS-CBN News – “LTO to impound e-bikes on major roads starting Dec 1”
• GMA News – “LTO, MMDA to enforce ban on e-bikes on national roads Dec. 1”
• CNN Philippines – “Authorities to bar e-bikes, e-trikes on national roads starting Dec. 1”
• Rappler – “E-bikes, e-trikes banned on major roads starting December 1”

⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ

Most e-bikes in the Philippines are low-power. They are used for delivery, short rides, and daily work. High-power models are too expensive, so very few people use them. But the Land Transportation Office (LTO) still wants all e-bikes to be registered and their riders to get a license.

That idea caused confusion. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) already banned some e-bikes from main roads. Then the LTO announced new registration rules—only to suspend them later because they were unclear. Now, no one really knows what the rule is.

The Real Issue

Low-power e-bikes are not the same as motorcycles. They move slower, carry light loads, and often don’t even have serial numbers or full documents. Treating them like motorcycles doesn’t make sense.

Because there are no clear power or speed limits, law enforcers make their own decisions. This opens the door for corruption. Every new rule in the LTO system can lead to “fixers,” special payments, or slow processing unless people pay extra.

How Other Countries Handle It

Europe

• E-bikes with a motor power of 250 W or less and a speed limit of 25 km/h are treated like bicycles—no registration or license needed.

• They can use bike lanes and normal roads where bicycles are allowed.

• Faster “speed pedelecs” must be registered, require a moped license, and riders must be at least 16 years old.

• Helmets and lights are mandatory for all road use.

United Kingdom

• The same 250 W / 25 km/h rule applies.

• Riders must be at least 14 years old to use electric-assist bikes (EAPCs) on public roads.

• No license, insurance, or registration is needed if the e-bike meets those limits.

• E-bikes can ride anywhere bicycles are allowed, including cycle lanes.

United States and Canada

• Most states and provinces follow a three-class system.
– Class 1 & 2 (pedal-assist or throttle up to 32 km/h): no registration or license required.
– Class 3 (up to 45 km/h): riders must be 16 or older, helmets required, and usually not allowed on bike lanes.

• Motors under 500–750 W count as low-power.

• Federal rules don’t require registration, but local states may set extra safety limits.

Asia

• Japan: Pedal-assist e-bikes under 300 W are treated as bicycles and can use roads and bike lanes. No license needed.

• Singapore: E-bikes up to 250 W / 25 km/h require helmets and a minimum age of 16.

• Philippines: Rules exist but lack clear power and speed limits. Registration may be required for public road use, depending on LTO guidelines.

What Should Be Done

• Set clear limits for power and speed so riders know if registration is required.

• Exempt low-power e-bikes from heavy paperwork and costs.

• Use online systems for registration to prevent fixers and bribery.

• Create safer lanes for e-bikes to reduce road accidents.

• Focus law enforcement on high-powered and unsafe vehicles, not the small ones used for daily work.

• Add clear age and safety rules—like helmet use, night lights, and proper training—without forcing every rider to get a full driver’s license.

The Bottom Line

The goal of any law should be safety and fairness. Most Filipinos use e-bikes because they can’t afford motorcycles or fuel. Making them register like big vehicles only adds burden and opens new chances for corruption.

Other countries already found balance. They allow low-power e-bikes on regular roads and bike lanes with simple rules—minimum age, helmets, and lights—without making riders go through expensive registration.

If the Philippines can adapt that kind of system, it will protect both riders and pedestrians without hurting those who just want to earn or go home safely.