Home ›› 06 Apr 2023 ›› Front
Bangladesh has moved one step forward towards implementing its plans of introducing at least 30% plug-in electric vehicles in the transportation system by 2030 with the introduction of Electric Motor Vehicle Registration and Movement Guideline 2023.
A notification was issued in this regard on Tuesday (April 4) following the approval of the guideline on February 23.
The guideline allows the import, manufacturing of EVs —two, three and four wheelers— and running on the roads following registration. In addition, it will also determine its fare, route permits, economic life etc.
Battery-run bicycles, rickshaw and rickshaw vans will not fall under the purview of the guideline.
According to the guidelines, unsafe EVs currently plying on the roads without approval of the government will need to be remodelled by the authority approved organisations, the guideline says.
Besides, no EVs with maximum 30 km/h speed will be allowed on the national and regional highways.
The registered EVs will need to have retro-reflective number plates, Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID tag), digital registration certificate, stickers, and labels which are presently applicable for other motorised vehicles.
Under the guideline, the government will provide some support to manufacturers of the popular vehicles for the time being, including tax holidays and incentives. Support will also be provided for the local assembly of EVs and development of technologies and infrastructures. Furthermore, the government will encourage joint venture companies by local and foreign investors.
To facilitate EVs, the Power Division will install charging stations across the country as per Electric Vehicle Charging Guideline, 2022. EVs can be charged at the charging stations, solar panels stations or at private facilities.
The government will encourage private sectors to install charging stations and the government will establish testing and research centres in collaboration with the private sector.
The EVs
The EVs approved for plying will have almost same standards like the motorised vehicles including braking, steering, lights, suspension, horn etc and all safety standards
will be equivalent to motorised vehicles which have permission to ply in Bangladesh.
Additionally, the vehicles will need to be equipped with battery systems that ensure passengers’ safety from dangers like electric shocks. The charging system of these vehicles must match with the country’s current electricity system, as per Electric Vehicle Charging Guidelines, 2022.
The EVs in laden condition will need to have the capacity of operating within the speed limit approved by the government for other similar kinds of motorised vehicles.
Like other vehicles, there will be an International VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) engraved in the vehicles’ body for their identification by the authorities while the electric motors will have identification numbers.
The electric motor can be changed by motors of the same specifications if they go out of order.
Stakeholders will need to follow the Road Transport Act 2018 and Road Transport Rules 2022 for manufacturing EVs, parts and maintenance.
Registration process
The EVs will need registration and fitness certificates, updated tax token, route permits to ply on roads. The vehicles will be given registration numbers following the same format like other motorised vehicles except things related to engines.
The authorities will decide how many of such vehicles will be given registration for certain areas.
For the motorised vehicles, the registration specifies number of cylinders, cubic capacity (CC), horse power, engine number, mode of fuel. For EVs, it will be the number of motors, capacity in KW, battery capacity in kWh, electricity etc.
Meanwhile, importers, assemblers, and local manufactures of EVs will need to get approval from BIDA, BEZA before installing plants. The imported vehicles have to be either brand new or used with sufficient lifetime remaining.
Before going for importing and registration, the local manufacturer, assemblers or importer companies will need to get approval for the vehicles specifying models and types—completely knock-down (CKD) or completely built up (CBU). While approving the types, the BRTA will follow rules applicable for the other electric vehicles.
Without registration, no importer, dealer, agent, or local manufacturer will be allowed to handover electric three wheelers and motorcycles to its customers.
The registration fee will be fixed by the government depending on motor capacity (kW) which is currently measured by CC for motorised vehicles. For other vehicles, the fee will be determined depending on its weight and passenger carrying capacity.
The registration number will be different for different kinds of EVs as like the motorised vehicles depending on engine capacity and types.
Economic life of EVs
According to the guideline, registration will be given following the vehicles’ permitted economic life. However, the government will determine the economic life of EVs that will be used for commercial use.
After the economic life is over, owners will need to scrap the vehicles, irrespective of their physical condition, as registration validity will not be extended.
Batteries like lead-acid, Lithium-ion or upgraded versions can be used in the EVs. The batteries will need to be disposed of following the government’s recycling guideline after their lifetime is over.
For public transport service, EVs will need route permits as well as follow Road Transport Act 2018. While approving route permits for passenger and goods laden vehicles the authorities will see how many kilometres a vehicle can run in single charge, capacity of its batteries, available charging facilities on the certain route etc.
