Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte 

A group of congressmen are pursuing the regulation of the operation of personal mobility scooters, e-motorcycles, and other electric motor vehicles. 

For this purpose, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Edvic Yap penned and field House Bill (HB) No. 8974. 

“The mounting complaints about the use of electric-powered vehicles on main thoroughfares, along with ensuring the safety of all motorists and commuters, necessitate the passage of a law that would regulate the use of these vehicles and penalize their riders who violate traffic rules and regulations,” Duterte said.  

Duterte said that while electric kick scooters and other similar vehicles were allowed on major roads by authorities during the Covid-19-induced lockdowns as these provided mobility and convenience to commuters, these should now be strictly regulated following the return to normalcy and traffic congestion back to pre-pandemic levels.   

The bill aims to provide the enabling legislation that would institutionalize and guarantee the continuity of the consolidated guidelines set by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for electric motor vehicles.  

It covers all types of motor vehicles powered by electric motors and  with the power storage charged directly from external sources. It excludes hybrid vehicles.  

Road violations involving e-motor vehicles are penalized with fines ranging from P1,500 to P10,000 and other applicable penalties set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for violations on licensing, registration, operation, weight or load limits and franchise requirements, as outlined in HB No.8974. 

Under the measure, electric vehicles with motors that can reach maximum speeds of 25 kilometers per hour (kph) or less and e-bikes that can reach maximum speeds of 50 kph do not require a driver’s license to operate, but all riders are required to wear protective helmets. 

These include personal mobility scooters designed for short trips, electric kick scooters,  L1a vehicles or two-wheeled e-bikes, L1b vehicles or e-bikes than can go up to 50 kph, and L2a vehicles or three-wheeled e-vehicles with maximum speeds of 25 kph.  

Based on their classification, these vehicles are limited either only on private roads, barangay roads, and local roads. 

Except for personal mobility scooters and electric kick scooters, all other vehicles not requiring a driver’s license to operate can pass major thoroughfares but for crossing purposes only and subject to certain conditions.  

Vehicles classified as L2b or three-wheeled e-vehicles reaching maximum speeds of 50 kph;  L3 (e-motorcycles); L4 (e-tricycle); L5 or 3-wheeled vehicles with minimum rated power of 1000 watts, maximum speeds of 50 kph and maximum curb weight of 600 kilograms; L6 and L7 (e-Quads or four-wheeled microcars); M (e-Car, e-SUV, e-Utility Vehicle, e-Jeepney and e-Bus) and N (e-trucks) all require an appropriate driver’s license to operate.  

L2b vehicles, which can travel beyond barangay roads and can pass main thoroughfares subject to  certain conditions, cannot be used for public transport.   

All other e-vehicles requiring an appropriate driver’s license are allowed on all types of roads subject to certain conditions, and can be used for public transport, when applicable.