In a step to curb road accidents involving electrified vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) for all electric cars, buses and trucks. AVAS is a device that will generate sound if the vehicle is moving at a speed up to 20 kmph to alert road users, especially pedestrians. According to the draft notification issued on September 23, all new models of electric vehicles, including both passengers and goods, manufactured after October 1, 2026, will have to be fitted with Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System to meet the requirements with regard to audibility. For the existing models, the cut-off date is October 1, 2027 and after that they too will have to install AVAS in the vehicles. The Indian Express reported on July 5 that the Central Government is planning to introduce a new regulation on electric vehicles that will require the manufacturers to install AVAS to generate sound if the vehicle is moving at the speed above zero to 20 kmph. Why is there a need of AVAS? Electric vehicles with speeds less than 20 kmph barely emit any sound, increasing the chances of an accident if other road users are not alerted of their presence. Due to the quiet mode of these vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists are not aware that a vehicle is coming from behind them, which leads to accidents. This is why MoRTH has initiated the process to mandate AVAS in the vehicle. The proposal is significant since the electric vehicles, including two and three wheelers, have increased significantly over the year. The government is also pushing for more such vehicles through its policies to cut down the emission and meet the Net Zero target. The penetration of these E-vehicles, such as two-wheeler, three-wheelers and E-rickshaws, have also increased in smaller colonies along the suburbs of metro cities since they have become one of the most favoured vehicles for commuters for last mile connectivity. According to the MoRTH's e-Vahan portal data, a total of 19.50 lakh electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the country in year 2024. These EVs constituted 7.44 percent share in total vehicles sold during the year. The share of EV in the total vehicles sold year-on-year have increased from 0.01 percent share in 2014-15 to 7.31 percent in 2024-25. In total, India has registered 56.75 lakh electric vehicles by February 2025. Will two and three wheelers also need AVAS? Not yet. The draft notification does not mention the requirement for the installation of AVAS in two-wheeler, three-wheelers and E-rickshaw and E-cart. However, the analysts have raised concern over this and suggested that all e-vehicles must be fitted with AVAS and keeping some of them out of this, especially those goes to the remote corners of the city, might increase the accident cases. When an electric vehicle moves above 20 kmph speed, it generates some sound through its tyres. However, this is not the case when it is below 20 kmph. AVAS regulations for electric and hybrid vehicles is also available in countries like United States, Japan.
