Concerned over the steady rise in electric vehicle fires, the Center has issued show-cause notices to EV makers such as Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech, and Pure EV, among others, warning them that they will be penalized for delivering faulty electric vehicles. Why action should not be taken- Wheel for the public. Reliable sources said the EV manufacturers have been given time till July-end to respond to the notice in detail.
Once the response comes, the government will decide what penal action, if any, is to be taken against the EV manufacturers in error. Last month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which comes under the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, had sent notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors after their e-scooters exploded in April.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is also awaiting a response from EV manufacturers on the show cause notices sent to them. Preliminary findings of a government-constituted inquiry committee on EV fires identified issues with the battery cell or design in almost all electric two-wheeler fire incidents in the country.
Also read: Tesla electric cars can now scan potholes, adaptive suspension to avoid damage to EVs
Experts found defects in battery cells as well as battery design in almost all EV fires. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), which was earlier tasked by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to probe into incidents of fire in electric two-wheelers, also found serious defects in EV two-wheeler batteries.
These defects occurred because electric two-wheeler makers such as Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors may have used “low-grade materials to cut costs”, a DRDO probe revealed. was.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has now released new performance benchmarks for lithium-ion batteries to protect consumers amid rising number of fire incidents in electric vehicles in the country.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has already warned EV manufacturers of strict action for negligence. He tweeted, ‘If any company is found to be negligent in its process, then heavy fine will be imposed and all defective vehicles will also be ordered to be recalled.
(With inputs from IANS)