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The government has asked EV makers to halt new product launches in the face of fires
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has denied reports that the government has asked electric two-wheeler makers not to launch new cars pending an investigation into a recent e-scooter fire. Manufacturers were spoken to at a meeting of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Monday to discuss the increase in fires involving electric two-wheelers, according to multiple media reports. All EV manufacturers have been asked to voluntarily recall entire batches of vehicles if one of the batches is involved in a fire incident. Now, the government has clarified on social media that the ministry has not given any such instructions.
— Morsindia (@MORTHIndia) April 28, 2022
Also read: India plans to punish companies, force recalls after electric car catches fire
Over the past month, there have been multiple fires involving electric scooters. A batch of Jitendra EV’s electric scooters caught fire near its factory in Maharashtra state while waiting for delivery.
Also read: Okinawa recalls over 3,000 electric scooters
According to recent reports, EV makers have been verbally told not to launch new vehicles “until the cause of the fire and the steps needed to stop it have been determined”. The media reports quoted a government official apparently discussing the growing number of fires involving electric two-wheelers at a meeting of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
“Manufacturers without electric two-wheeler fires have also been warned to take corrective action on their sold vehicles,” the report quoted a government official as saying. “The Ministry of Roads has asked EV manufacturers to educate consumers about charging safety.” And how to prevent fire accidents.”
Also read: Okinawa dealer in Tamil Nadu catches fire
Last week, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari asked electric car makers to voluntarily recall faulty electric two-wheelers following a series of fire incidents, some of which also lost their lives. Electric vehicle makers such as Ola Electric, Okinawa and Pure EV have all been involved in fires involving electric scooters, recalling nearly 7,000 of their electric two-wheelers sold following the minister’s statement.
Also read: Jitendra EV’s 20 electric scooters catch fire
A pure EV electric scooter catches fire on a public road near Chennai in March 2022
Also read: Ola S1 Pro electric scooter catches fire in Pune
The vehicle recall directive was reiterated on Monday in an interaction between the electric car maker and senior road ministry officials. Electric vehicle makers were also reminded of the provisions of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act, which allows the central government to order mandatory recalls and impose fines on violating manufacturers.
Also read: Experts comment on the causes of EV fires and the way forward
While the government may not have issued any instructions to stop the introduction of electric two-wheelers, there is no denying that there is a growing focus on quality and safety, especially the systems and processes and the quality of the batteries used in new electric two-wheelers.
Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill said there must be checks and balances and solutions to ensure the safety of electric vehicles.
Also read: BEVs recall electric scooters after fire
“As an industry, at this critical time, we must work with policymakers to create checks and balances and solutions to ensure maximum safety for electric vehicles. OEMs must go back to the design board to revisit safety and strengthen Strict Quality Hero Electric CEO Sohinder Gill said: “Ensuring proper battery usage is ensured from sourcing to production and deployment. Awareness of healthy battery usage is another key aspect, and brands must introduce/introduce educational campaigns for customers to keep them safe. “
Comment
While India is pushing ahead with EV adoption, a recent unfortunate fire involving electric two-wheelers could dampen consumer sentiment, at least in the short term. In the longer term, as fuel prices rise, the EV space is likely to see more action in new products, better engineering and innovative products.
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