Maldives Mandates Green License Plates for All Electric Vehicles

All electric vehicles in the Maldives must switch to specialized green license plates within a 60-day period, according to a new government mandate. The regulation, formalized through an amendment to the Land Vehicle Registration Regulation, applies to both new and existing battery-powered vehicles. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation stated the move aims to formalize the growing electric vehicle sector, making such cars easily identifiable on public roads. An electric vehicle is defined as any conveyance powered exclusively by a battery or electric motor, with no internal combustion engine. The directive arrives as the government prepares to launch a state-operated taxi service using 150 newly procured electric cars. These taxis will feature green plates with yellow lettering, while private electric vehicles will have green plates with white lettering. The new rules also explicitly prohibit the manufacture or use of license plates with illuminated or glowing colors. The green plates join a national system that uses black for private vehicles, white for military fleets, blue for diplomatic transport, and yellow for conventional taxis. The amendment also introduces streamlined registration procedures for certain classes of heavy vehicles.