L2-5 vehicles feature a rickshaw-like frame without a front wheel. A scooter fits into this frame and serves as the front wheel. The scooter’s rear wheel is lifted off the ground and rests on the rickshaw platform in this configuration. The scooter can also be detached and used independently.
The government has proposed a new classification for convertible two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles, paving the way for innovative transportation solutions. Draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, have been issued to introduce a category known as “L2-5.” This category encompasses three-wheeled vehicles that can be transformed into scooters and vice versa, catering to user requirements. Specifically, the “L2-5” category refers to a three-wheeled motor vehicle with a 2-wheeler-3-wheeler combination module. This design allows for a two-wheeled vehicle of category L2 to be combined with a non-self-propelled rear module unit, which can be separated or combined as needed. At any given time, the vehicle can function either as a two-wheeler of Category L2 or a three-wheeler of Category L5.
An example of this innovative vehicle type is the Surge S32, a product of Hero MotoCorp-owned startup Surge. The S32 is an electric three-wheeler that can be converted into an electric two-wheeler in just three minutes. It features a rickshaw-like structure without a front wheel, into which a scooter slots to act as the front wheel. In this configuration, the scooter’s rear wheel is lifted off the ground and rests on the rickshaw platform, allowing the scooter to be decoupled and used independently.
Convertible two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles offer users the flexibility to switch between different use cases, such as ride-sharing, last-mile delivery, and personal mobility. In their respective forms, the three-wheelers and two-wheelers operate on their respective powertrains, ensuring that only one vehicle is functional at a time for user and vehicle safety.
The draft notification further specifies that “Category L2 – 5 M” refers to a category L2-5 vehicle designed for passenger transport, while “Category L2 – 5 N” refers to a category L2-5 vehicle designed for carrying goods. For vehicles in the L2-5 category, a single registration number will be assigned for both configurations, whether it is the separated two-wheeled vehicle of the L2 category or the combined three-wheeled vehicle of the L5 category.
