Indian Government Warns Of Tough Penalty For Negligent Companies On EV Fires

Last Updated on April 26, 2022 by Anu Joy

Countless instances involving electric scooters have occurred in recent weeks. Everything from fires to broken axels and accidents has drawn unfavourable attention to the EV industry. In view of the recent accidents, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has slammed electric car makers for their negligence.

The minister took to Twitter to express his regret that some people had died in EV fires, while others had been injured. There have been multiple such incidents, ranging from solitary scooters to showrooms full of EVs that have caught fire. He stated that the government has formed a committee to investigate these instances and provide recommendations on how they might be reduced. Quality control guidelines, adequate battery testing for the Indian region, and the thermal runaway issue will be introduced to the testing process in the near future.

The Minister further added, “If any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered”. He also said that EV companies must recall defective batches immediately and fix any issues. Okinawa Motors, the company whose scooters were among the first ones to catch fire, has already issued India’s first two-wheeler EV recall. Ola Electric has also announced a recall of 1,441 units to check battery performance and health.

In India, EVs are still a developing mode of transportation, and incidences of scooters catching fire may force buyers to continue with their ICE scooters for fear of such accidents.