Homologation of an electric vehicle in France: Type approval, RTI (Road Traffic Regulations), and vehicle categories L

To operate a motor vehicle on public roads in France, the vehicle must be "approved," meaning it must be recognized by the state as meeting the technical requirements for safety and emissions. This is commonly referred to as homologation, and it is a prerequisite for obtaining vehicle registration. A manufacturer obtains approval for a specific type of vehicle; individuals or small workshops that import, modify, or build vehicles must go through an individual approval process with the DREAL (Direction Régionale de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement). This guide explains these procedures, the categories of electric two-wheelers, and the specific case of electric scooters.

Reception by type, individual reception

The DREAL Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes states in the introduction to its FAQ: "Homologation" and "reception" have the same meaning. There are two main pathways.

• Type Approval: The manufacturer obtains approval for a model, at the European or national level. Each unit produced is then accompanied by a certificate of conformity, and can be registered without further examination.
• Individual Inspection: A single vehicle is inspected. This applies particularly to vehicles imported without sufficient documentation of conformity, modified vehicles, and unique vehicles. We refer to this as "individual approval" (RTI) for a vehicle that is already registered or imported, and as "national individual approval" (RIN) for a new vehicle that has never been registered.

How does a Remote Tire Inflation (RTI) system work?

According to the DREAL (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing) of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the process involves five steps:

1. Prepare the application file using the application form that corresponds to your specific situation. There is a separate form for vehicles in category L that do not comply with type approval regulations. The applicant is fully responsible for preparing the entire application file.
2. Submit the file through the Octave2 platform, or by email or mail to the departmental unit of the DREAL (Direction Régionale de l'Environnement, de l'Aménagement et du Logement) in the region where you reside.
3. Instruction: The DREAL (French environmental agency) may request that the application be supplemented, that paid tests be conducted at a notified laboratory (in France, UTAC, and several technical services for electromagnetic compatibility), or that the vehicle be modified.
4. Vehicle inspection, by appointment only, in perfect condition, with visible license plates and identification numbers, and with the original documents.
5. Acceptance report and receipt, if the vehicle complies with regulations, after payment of the fee. The receipt is used to request the vehicle registration certificate.

If the vehicle does not meet the required standards, a rejection notice will be issued. Given the technical nature of the subject, the DREAL (French environmental agency) recommends seeking assistance from a professional or a company specializing in vehicle homologation.

Electric two-wheelers: bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles

What distinguishes one two-wheeled vehicle from another are the motor's power, the maximum speed, and the way the motor operates.

Our guide on electric bicycles, speed pedelecs, and mopeds details these distinctions, and our guide on approved or off-road electric motorcycles covers the case of motorcycles.

Converting a bicycle into a moped or motorcycle

The DREAL (Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing) of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes responds directly: a bicycle to which a motor exceeding 250 W is added, or which exceeds 25 km/h, becomes a moped, and even a motorcycle if it exceeds 45 km/h. To register it, it must be approved according to the decree of August 17, 2016, concerning the approval of vehicles in category L, with justification for each regulated area: approval certificate, test report, manufacturer's report. They add that such a project would certainly be expensive and would have little chance of success.

Changing the motor, retrofitting

• Engine change: If the modification alters the vehicle's power or energy consumption, the transformation is subject to individual approval, after prior agreement from the manufacturer. Laboratory tests may be required.
• Series Retrofit: The conversion of a combustion engine vehicle to electric power is governed by the decree of March 13, 2020. The conversion system is type-approved by the National Vehicle Approval Center, and then installed by an installer authorized by the kit manufacturer. See our guide on electric retrofit of a motorcycle or scooter.
• Individual Retrofit: The conversion of a single vehicle, outside of a larger program, is subject to approval.

The case of electric scooters

Electric scooters and other motorized personal mobility devices are not subject to approval according to the Highway Code, according to the DREAL. They must comply with the technical requirements for PMDs, including a maximum speed of 25 km/h by design. For a scooter that goes faster, the DGCCRF is clear: it is never allowed on public roads, and there is no approval or acceptance process for this type of vehicle. A performance scooter therefore remains a machine for circuits and private land, as stated in our terms and conditions of sale.

Designing a vehicle that meets regulatory requirements

Homologation preparation begins from the initial specifications, not at the end. Identical electronics from one unit to another, identified components, documented characteristics, and traceable tests all facilitate the entire process. This is what our engineering department does for manufacturers: we designed the controller and display for the German versions of the Zosh Mountain, which passed TÜV certification and obtained the ABE, the authorization to operate on public roads in Germany (see the Zosh project). For conversion workshops, see our page retrofit of mopeds and motorcycles.