EV Simplified: Do You Need A License To Ride An Electric Bike?

Published February 7, 2022
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A lowdown on the license requirements, and options if you want to ride one without a license

The electric two-wheeler market has created a lot of buzz of late, catering to a wide audience and piquing interest of young and old alike. But the EV two-wheeler segment, in particular, has raised a lot of questions, including whether you need a driver's license to ride one. Here's all you need to know about the license requirements:

Electric Two-wheelers That Do not Require A License
As per the current regulations, electric two-wheelers with a maximum output of 250 watts or a top-speed of under 25kmph do not require you to have a driver’s license. This category of electric two-wheelers are classified as low-speed EVs and include products from Hero Electric, Ampere Electric, and BGauss. For a detailed lowdown on these e-scooters and how different they are from high-speed e-scooters, head to this story.

Not only do these e-scooters not require a license, but also do not meet the requirement to be categorised as a ‘motor vehicle’, negating the need for registration as well.

When You Need To Have A License
Electric two-wheelers that have a motor that generates over 250 watts and has a top speed of over 25kmph, require you to have a driver’s license. This category primarily includes products from major brands, including the Bajaj Chetak, TVS iQube Electric and the Ather 450X.

These products also require registrations, and most of these EVs attract FAME-II and other state-specific subsidies. This story gets you up to date on the FAME-II benefits.