New Delhi: In view of the rising cases of electric two-wheelers catching fire in various parts of the country, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday came down heavily on auto manufacturing companies and said that government will issue necessary orders on such defaulting companies.
Many incidents of burning EVs have been reported lately causing injuries as well as in deaths in a few extreme cases. The announcement by Gadkari came after receiving the report of an expert panel that has been formed to enquire into the matter.
In a series of tweets, Gadkari said several mishaps involving electric two-wheelers have come to light in the last two months. It is most unfortunate that some people have lost their lives and several have been injured in these incidents, he said.
Futhermore, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that based on the reports of two-wheeler EVs catching fire, the government will issue necessary orders on the defaulting companies. "We will soon issue quality-centric guidelines for Electric Vehicles," he said, adding, "If any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered."
Gadkari also pointed out that Centre has already constituted an Expert Committee to enquire into these incidents and make recommendations on remedial steps, adding that companies may take advance action to recall all defective batches of vehicles immediately.
"Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, our government is committed to ensure safety of each and every commuter," he tweeted.
The Union Minister's remarks came days after an elderly man died after the battery of an electric scooter exploded in their house in Nizamabad town, in Telangana. In the explosion, the man's wife and grandson suffered burn injuries. In another such incident, an e-scooter launched by ride-hailing operator Ola's electric mobility arm caught fire in Pune.
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