MoRTH Proposes Acoustic Alert System for EVs

In an effort to curb road accidents involving electrified vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) for all electric cars, buses, and trucks.

What is AVAS?

• AVAS is a device that generates sound when the vehicle is moving at speeds up to 20 kmph.
• It is primarily aimed at alerting pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users of the vehicle’s presence.

Draft Notification Details

• Issued on September 23, 2025.
• All new models of electric vehicles — passenger and goods — manufactured after October 1, 2026 must be fitted with AVAS.
• The regulation is to meet audibility requirements and enhance road safety.

Need for the System

• Electric vehicles moving below 20 kmph emit very little sound, making them nearly silent.
• This increases accident risks as pedestrians and cyclists are unaware of approaching vehicles.
• AVAS is meant to address this safety hazard by ensuring vehicles are detectable by sound.

Significance

• The step signals India’s push towards safe electrification of mobility.
• Comes at a time when sales of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars, and buses are rising significantly across the country.