83 EVs caught hearth in Karnataka in final 4 years; Okinawa, Ola report most instances | Bangalore Information

Of the 83 hearth incidents, 65 are attributed to energy leakages, 13 as a consequence of battery explosion and 5 as a consequence of unintended hearth. Most instances contain electrical two-wheelers, adopted by electrical automobiles, autos and buses. In 11 incidents, hearth was reported within the electrical automobile showrooms in Bengaluru, Davanagere, Dakshina Kannada, Ballari, Chikkabalapura and Kalaburgi.

Moreover, of the 83 instances, 44 have been reported in Bengaluru, eight in Dakshina Kannada, 4 every in Dharwad, Davanagere, and Kalaburgi, three every in Mandya and Belagavi, two every in Ramanagara, Udupi, Mysore, and Ballari, and one every in Chamarajanagar, Chikkabalapura, Koppal, Raichur and Chitradurga.

The federal government recognized the EV firm’s identify in only some instances. Okinawa Scooters topped the listing with 9 incidents of fireplace, adopted by Ola, which reported 5 such incidents. In the meantime, Ather reported solely two incidents. Based on the information, 4 electrical two-wheelers within the Raichur district reportedly caught hearth throughout the peak of summer season in Might 2024.

The info assumes significance in gentle of the continued incidents of disgruntled prospects expressing ire towards EV corporations, together with Ola and others, over the poor efficiency of the electrical two-wheelers and, in some situations, the automobiles catching hearth. In October 2024, an Ola electrical scooter caught hearth exterior its showroom in Bengaluru’s BTM structure. The incident was captured on video and went viral on social media. Netizens mocked the incident, calling it a “Diwali reward” to Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal.

In November 2024, a 26-year-old girl was charred to loss of life, three folks suffered accidents within the hearth and over 25 electrical scooters have been destroyed in a hearth that broke out at an electrical automobile showroom on Dr Rajkumar Highway in Rajajinagar. The federal government, in its knowledge, attributed the reason for hearth to a battery explosion in one of many automobiles that triggered the accident.

Patil mentioned, “To make sure the protection of batteries utilized in electrical automobiles, the Union Ministry of Highway Transport & Highways has mandated that battery-operated automobiles adjust to Bureau of Indian Requirements (BIS) specs, together with IS 15886, 18590, and 186060.”

He added, “The Automotive Analysis Affiliation of India (ARAI), the nation’s main automotive R&D group, was established by the automotive trade in collaboration with the Authorities of India. As an autonomous physique beneath the Ministry of Heavy Industries, ARAI performs a key function in testing and certifying automobiles beneath the Central Motor Car Guidelines. As the first testing and certification company notified beneath Rule 126 of the Central Motor Car Guidelines, 1989, ARAI certifies automobiles for security, low emissions, excessive effectivity, and reliability. Producers are required to provide automobiles in compliance with the certifications issued by ARAI to take care of trade requirements.”