<p>The banned 80,000 e-rickshaws could make a comeback on city roads as e-carts or commercial goods carrier vehicles, according to the on going discussions in the transport department of the Delhi administration. <br /><br /></p>.<p>As passenger safety issues related to the existing fleet of the three-wheeled battery vehicles remain a concern, officials are considering possibilities which may save the livelihood of the existing fleet of e-rickshaw drivers by allowing the vehicles only for commercial use, instead of ferrying passengers. <br /><br />Apart from the driver, the e-cart may be allowed to carry a total of 310 kg weight, said an official.<br /><br />“The newly notified safety norms for e-rickshaws could apply on the passenger vehicles which may hit the road in future, while the existing ones may be used for commercial use,” he said.<br /><br />The proposal talks about allowing the existing e-rickshaw owners to modify their vehicles’ bodies for commercial vehicle as a uniform design.<br /><br />“This solution will also help develop a single prototype for e-carts which could undergo safety test at an independent agency before registration with the transport department,” said an official.<br /><br />At present, the existing 80,000 passenger e-rickshaws are not of a uniform body and make. Despite the central government’s relaxation of the rules, there are concerns that even if one model of e-rickshaw is tested and certified, the test result may not apply to other two dozen models.<br /><br />The registered association of e-rickshaw owners has been asked to send one prototype for safety and road fitness tests to a certifying agency till November 30. <br /><br />“There are problems finding the model whose test report could apply to others,” said a member of an e-rickshaw association.<br /><br />The e-rickshaws were banned by the Delhi High Court in July and the next hearing in the matter is scheduled for October 10.<br /><br />The central government issued a gazette notification on October 1 making e-rickshaw a legal mode of transport, which the court wanted after it found that there was no mention of e-rickshaw in the list of vehicles legally allowed to ply under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.<br /><br />The notification makes it clear that the vehicle should be adapted to carry not more than four passengers, excluding the driver, and not more than 40 kg luggage. A maximum motor speed of 2,000 W and a maximum speed of 25 kmph has also been recommended. <br />An e-rickshaw cannot be longer than 2.6 metres, wider than one metre and taller than 1.8 metres. <br /><br />Each e-rickshaw will require a fitness certificate, valid for three years, based on 28 tests and ply on a specific route.<br /><br />There will be a need for a learner’s licence for e-rickshaw drivers and there will be a three-year validity of permanent e-rickshaw driving licence.<br /></p>
<p>The banned 80,000 e-rickshaws could make a comeback on city roads as e-carts or commercial goods carrier vehicles, according to the on going discussions in the transport department of the Delhi administration. <br /><br /></p>.<p>As passenger safety issues related to the existing fleet of the three-wheeled battery vehicles remain a concern, officials are considering possibilities which may save the livelihood of the existing fleet of e-rickshaw drivers by allowing the vehicles only for commercial use, instead of ferrying passengers. <br /><br />Apart from the driver, the e-cart may be allowed to carry a total of 310 kg weight, said an official.<br /><br />“The newly notified safety norms for e-rickshaws could apply on the passenger vehicles which may hit the road in future, while the existing ones may be used for commercial use,” he said.<br /><br />The proposal talks about allowing the existing e-rickshaw owners to modify their vehicles’ bodies for commercial vehicle as a uniform design.<br /><br />“This solution will also help develop a single prototype for e-carts which could undergo safety test at an independent agency before registration with the transport department,” said an official.<br /><br />At present, the existing 80,000 passenger e-rickshaws are not of a uniform body and make. Despite the central government’s relaxation of the rules, there are concerns that even if one model of e-rickshaw is tested and certified, the test result may not apply to other two dozen models.<br /><br />The registered association of e-rickshaw owners has been asked to send one prototype for safety and road fitness tests to a certifying agency till November 30. <br /><br />“There are problems finding the model whose test report could apply to others,” said a member of an e-rickshaw association.<br /><br />The e-rickshaws were banned by the Delhi High Court in July and the next hearing in the matter is scheduled for October 10.<br /><br />The central government issued a gazette notification on October 1 making e-rickshaw a legal mode of transport, which the court wanted after it found that there was no mention of e-rickshaw in the list of vehicles legally allowed to ply under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.<br /><br />The notification makes it clear that the vehicle should be adapted to carry not more than four passengers, excluding the driver, and not more than 40 kg luggage. A maximum motor speed of 2,000 W and a maximum speed of 25 kmph has also been recommended. <br />An e-rickshaw cannot be longer than 2.6 metres, wider than one metre and taller than 1.8 metres. <br /><br />Each e-rickshaw will require a fitness certificate, valid for three years, based on 28 tests and ply on a specific route.<br /><br />There will be a need for a learner’s licence for e-rickshaw drivers and there will be a three-year validity of permanent e-rickshaw driving licence.<br /></p>
