EV owners given 60 days to switch to green licence plates

Electric vehicles in the Maldives have been given 60 days to change their licence plates to green following an amendment to the Road Motor Vehicle Registration Rules.

The change was introduced under the seventh amendment to the rules, which came into effect on Tuesday.

Under the amendment, electric vehicles are defined as vehicles that operate using battery power or an electric motor instead of petrol or diesel engines.

The amendment revises provisions relating to the colour of licence plates and lettering for registered vehicles. Previously, electric vehicles were issued black licence plates.

Under the new rules, commercial electric vehicles will use green licence plates with yellow lettering.

Private electric vehicles will use green licence plates with white lettering.

Although the amendment has taken effect, electric vehicles already registered in the system have been given a period of 60 days to comply with the new requirement.

The amendment also introduces a change to provisions related to vehicle registration.

Under existing rules, vehicles imported without payment of import duty under diplomatic arrangements may only be registered by a non-diplomat after the applicable duty is paid.

A new provision states that this restriction does not apply to companies in which the government holds more than 50% ownership, where their activities include passenger or freight transport within the road system.