Tannuka Juneja
The Centre for Fire, Explosive & Environment Safety (CFEES) of the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on May 23 submitted an investigation report into the electric scooter fire to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, pointing out serious problems with electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
According to sources familiar with the matter, these errors occur because electric two-wheeler manufacturers such as Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicle, Ola Electric and Boom Motors use “substandard materials to reduce costs”.
DRDO’s CFEES has submitted its investigation report to the ministry, Business Standard reported.
According to sources, the ministry has now called representatives of the manufacturers of these electric vehicles and asked them to clarify the results of their DRDO report.
Earlier this month, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which falls under the Central Consumer Affairs Department, issued notices to Pure EV and Boom Motors after their electric scooters exploded in April.
Consumer watchdog e-scooters are investigating other cases of fire and will provide similar advice to other EV manufacturers.
Ola Electric, Jitendra EV and Okinawa Autotech, as well as Pure EV and Boom Motors, have recalled faulty lots after electric vehicle fires.
Preliminary results from a government-appointed commission of inquiry into electric vehicle fires have identified cell or battery design problems in almost every electric two-wheeler fire in the country.
The committee was formed in the wake of fires in electric vehicles and battery explosions in electric scooters.
Experts have found flaws in battery cells as well as battery design in almost all electric vehicle fires.
The government is currently working on a new quality-oriented guideline for electric vehicles, which will be unveiled soon.
In recent incidents, at least 12 electric two-wheelers have exploded, while several EV manufacturers have withdrawn defective batches under increasing government pressure.
