MANUFACTURERS and importers of electric bicycles, motorcycles and other light electric vehicles may face additional compliance requirements under a proposed Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regulation that would require batteries to be certified separately from the vehicles they power.
The draft technical regulation would require covered vehicles and batteries to comply with applicable Philippine National Standards before they can be sold or distributed in the country.
The proposal covers electric bicycles, personal e-mobility devices, electrically propelled mopeds and electric motorcycles, along with their batteries.
The DTI aims to address safety risks involving electrical faults, overheating, power failures and fires.
Recent months have seen a spate of reports about fires allegedly being started by faulty batteries in vehicles and other devices.
Under the draft, batteries would undergo independent assessment rather than being evaluated only as part of a complete vehicle. Components may still be tested as part of the assembled vehicle when required by the relevant standards.
The proposal excludes standalone electric vehicle supply equipment, charging stations and related infrastructure, battery-swapping stations, stationary battery energy storage systems, and electrical components not specifically covered by the regulation.
The DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards already lists PNS UL 2271:2024, which covers batteries for light electric vehicles, and PNS UL 2849:2023, which sets safety requirements for e-bike electrical systems.
The proposed rules come as sales of smaller electric vehicles accelerate. Data from the Land Transportation Office show that local sales of two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles jumped to 43,441 units in 2024 from just 172 in 2023.
Two-wheelers accounted for nearly all sales in 2024, while three-wheelers made up only 0.28 percent of the total.
The DTI is accepting public comments on the draft regulation until December 13.