Mumbai
A Tata Nexon electric vehicle caught fire at a busy intersection in Mumbai’s Vasai Road, making it the first case of an electric car fire in the country.
There is no report of any casualty or injury to anyone in the incident.
“A detailed investigation is currently being conducted to ascertain the facts of this isolated incident. After that we will share detailed feedback. We are committed to the safety of our vehicles and their users. A Tata Motors spokesperson said that this is the first such incident after over 30,000 EVs have covered over 100 million km across the country in almost 4 years.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has constituted a committee to look into the fire incident. Sources said the ministry has also asked Tata Motors to provide details related to the incident. MoRTH has constituted a committee of experts including Center for Fire, Explosive and Environmental Safety, Indian Institute of Science and Naval Science and Technological Laboratory.
best selling EV
Tata Nexon is the best selling electric vehicle in India and one of the two EVs sold by it. The company has sold more than 30,000 electric cars in the last four years, which together have covered over 100 million kilometres. Neither of these cars has experienced any such incident so far.
The five-seater Tata Nexon EV packs a 30.2kWh high energy density lithium-ion battery pack with liquid-cooled thermal management system. The vehicle has IP67 rated protection for the motor and battery pack, making it dust and waterproof.
thermal management
In an earlier interaction with Tata Motors executives, the company said that it has focused more on thermal management, which is the most important aspect in an EV. It also borrowed technical expertise from its UK-based brand, Jaguar Land Rover, to ensure that the temperature inside the battery pack remained under control.
While incidents of EV fires are globally common as was the case with Tesla models, such incidents in India could shake consumer confidence in electric vehicle technology. In the last few months, there has been an increase in the incidents of electric two-wheelers bursting or catching fire across the country. This comes even as the Center is trying to make India a hub for electric vehicles, including the production of cells and battery packs.
Priced at around ₹15 lakh, the Nexon EV has a proven drive range of 312 km for a full charge. A few weeks back, Tata Motors launched another variant called Nexon EV Max with an improved range of 437 kms, priced at ₹17.74 lakhs.
(With inputs from Delhi Bureau)
Published on
23 June 2022