E-scooters on Centre’s radar after recent fires
Government may ask Ola, Okinawa to recall their electric two-wheelers
NEW DELHI: The government may ask electric scooter makers, including Ola and Okinawa, to recall their two-wheelers after a spate of recent fire incidents, three government officials aware of the matter said.
Four incidents of fire involving electric scooters made by Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech and Pure EV have been reported in the past couple of weeks, triggering fear among EV users. One of the incidents involving an Okinawa scooter reportedly led to the deaths of a father and daughter in Tamil Nadu. The road transport and highways ministry recently opened a probe into the incidents.
The instances of fire not only pose a challenge to the firms involved but may also impede the growth of eco-friendly electric vehicle sales in India and derail the country’s efforts to become a manufacturing hub of such vehicles and batteries.
To be sure, carmakers in the US and Europe have also had to grapple with safety issues related to lithium-ion battery fires, leading to recalls and investigations.
Though vehicle recalls in India are normally done voluntarily by auto firms to replace faulty parts that may imperil the running of vehicles, a compulsory recall has to be done if a certain number of vehicles face the same problem. The officials said the government could also seek a recall if investigations show that road accidents involving EVs were because of faulty or inferior quality components, including the lithium-ion battery that forms the heart of EVs.
Responding to a query, ministry of road transport and highways secretary Giridhar Aramane said: “We have ordered an enquiry by experts into the incidents of EV catching fire during the last two months. Once reports are received, we will take appropriate action.”
An official with the ministry of heavy industries said the ministry is in touch with the ministry of road transport and highways regarding the incidents and has given its input on safety measures. The ministry, however, did not respond to queries sent by Mint on Wednesday evening.
“Action will depend on what the investigations reveal. If no fault is found in the make and investigations suggest fire accidents were due to drivers’ negligence, then the government may issue a standard operating procedure (SOP) detailing how these vehicles should be used. In the worst-case scenario, if a serious fault is found with the make, companies may be issued showcause notices with the likelihood of suspension of licence in extreme cases,” the official said, seeking anonymity.
Responding to a question in the Parliament last week, Nitin Gadkari, the minister for road transport and highways, said Centre had ordered a forensic probe into each individual event from experts of the Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety under DRDO, and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
A second official, who also did not want to be named, said none of the companies concerned will have any option but to recall the vehicles they sold in case another such incident occurs with their respective vehicles.