The Bangladesh government has finally given its approval for a guideline that will help in the registration and operation of electric vehicles. They are hoping to have at least 30 percent of vehicles running on electric power by the year 2030.
The Electric Motor Vehicle Registration and Operation Guideline 2023 will be put into effect soon after it is published in the gazette. According to Nur Mohammad Mazumder, the chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, this guideline was formulated as per section 124 of the Road Transport Act 2018.
This development has been a long time coming. A draft guideline was submitted in November 2018, and it took more than four years to finally get the government’s approval. The division even sent a delegation to India to gain some experience.
The guideline states that electric vehicles are those that run on one or more electric motors, powered by electric charge or rechargeable batteries. The category mentioned does not include battery-operated rickshaws, vans, and bicycles. Additionally, the battery-run easy-bikes will also be outside the purview of this guideline.
According to the BRTA chairman, only the vehicle models that have been approved by the government committee will be classified as electric vehicles. The guideline aims to bring discipline in approving electric vehicle operation, fixing an electric vehicle registration process, reducing carbon emissions and environmental pollution, and determining the economic life of vehicles.
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly important, and Bangladesh has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector by 3.4 million tonnes by 2030 under its Nationally Determined Contribution. Therefore, at least 30 percent of motor vehicles will have to be electric by 2030.
Each vehicle will have to obtain electric vehicle registration. Electric vehicles will be required to have a registration, fitness certificates, tax tokens, and route permits, just like other vehicles. Any existing unsafe electric vehicles must be retrofitted according to a safe model approved by government entities.
Dealers, agents, importers, local manufacturers, or producers will not be allowed to hand over electric three-wheelers or motorcycles to owners without electric vehicle registration. Electric vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 30kmph will not be permitted to operate on national and regional highways.
Various government agencies, such as the National Board of Revenue, will offer special incentives to promote electric vehicles. The registration of an electric vehicle will be granted for a specific duration based on its “economic life”, after which the electric vehicle registration will be canceled and the vehicle will need to be scrapped.
All drivers of electric vehicles will be subject to the same laws, rules, and guidelines as those governing the transportation sector.
Leave feedback about this