While the increasing acceptance of EVs is an encouraging move, the rising cases of them catching fire in the open remains a huge concern
In recent times, the sales of electric vehicles have increased exponentially. While the mainstream vehicle manufacturers are yet to catch up in the game, the new-age electric two-wheeler start-ups are fuelling the demand for electric scooters and motorcycles in India.
There is a sudden surge in the sales of electric scooters from newer players like Ola Electric, Ather Energy, Okinawa and Pure EV. While this is boosting their morale and making them notable in the presence of other prominent two-wheeler manufacturers in India, there is a concern that continues to haunt them ever after the mistakes from the past – the rising concern of electric scooters catching fire.
Several electric scooters caught fire recently
The most recent unfortunate incidents of electric scooters burning up in raging flames come from two different cities of Pune, Maharashtra and Vellore, Tamil Nadu. In Pune, a brand new Ola S1 Pro caught fire while parked on the side of the road. While the exact reason for the root cause of this incident is not yet known, Ola Electric has issued an official statement in which it has said that it is a serious matter of concern related to consumer safety. It also confirmed that it will investigate this matter thoroughly.
In another incident on the same day, an Okinawa iPraise+ electric scooter burned to ashes while parked in a house in Vellore. The scooter owner had put the scooter on charge in his home socket. Unfortunately, the scooter owner and his daughter sleeping inside the home died due to suffocation caused by the smoke from the fire.
In an official statement, Okinawa said that the negligence by the owner while charging the scooter caused a short circuit, due to which the scooter burnt to ashes. However, the company is still waiting for the final report to unfold the actual cause of the incident. It is the second time an Okinawa scooter caught fire, as a similar incident had reported in October 2021. In that incident, no casualties took place.
Yesterday another electric scooter from Pure EV caught fire. The 26-second video shows the scooter engulfed in flame near a toll plaza.
Why Electric Scooters Catch Fire?
There are two primary causes behind the case of electric scooters burning suddenly like this. First is the poor quality of lithium-ion cells used in the battery packs of these electric scooters. If the cathode and anode of the batteries come into direct contact with each other, the sudden heat produced due to this action can result in batteries catching fire. This fire continues to burn until the chemical reaction between the electrode materials doesn’t stop, which is called ‘thermal runaway.’ Even a poor battery management system can result in fires like this.
Another primary reason behind such incidents is negligence while charging the electric scooters. Many people either charge their electric scooters through non-genuine chargers or non-specified power outlets or overcharge their batteries. Some people even continue to ride if their batteries get damaged due to any specified or unspecified reason.
Indian government looks into the issue
After four incidents in four days, the government has ordered a probe
Yes, it is. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a probe to look after these recent incidents of electric scooters catching fire. For this, the ministry has ordered the Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) for further investigation. CFEES will determine the root cause of the incidents and find if any structural issues or manufacturing defects led to these incidents.
What do you think about such unfortunate incidents taking place in electric scooters? Let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: Electric Scooters Are Catching Fire In India; Government Starts A Probe