'Recall Electric Two-Wheeler Batches Involved In Fire Incidents': Niti Aayog CEO To Manufacturers

Amitabh Kant said it was important for the EV industry to instill a sense of confidence in consumers by recalling their vehicles over fire risks as is done by global automakers.

An electric scooter caught fire in the Lohegaon area of Pune last month (Screengrab)

New Delhi: With reports of electric two-wheelers catching fire sparking safety concerns, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Wednesday asked EV manufacturers to recall batches involved in the incidents.

Kant said it was important for the EV industry to instill a sense of confidence in consumers by recalling their vehicles over fire risks as is done by global automakers, a report in CNBC said.

"Manufacturing of (battery) cells isn't regulated. Battery management system needs to be strengthened. There has been a clear partnership between battery manufacturing and battery management," he was quoted as saying in the CNBC report.

So far, five such incidents were reported in the past two weeks. On Saturday, 20 electric scooters of Nashik-based Jitendra EV Tech caught fire after being loaded on a transport container. No one was injured in the incident.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha last month, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the EV fire incidents might have taken place due to higher temperature.

"This is a very serious issue and we have ordered a forensic investigation into each individual event," said Gadkari in Lok Sabha on March 31. He said the government would take appropriate action after a detailed technical report is submitted after the 30-day probe.

The government is also preparing comprehensive guidelines for the electric vehicle (EV) industry follwing the fire incidents, IANS reported.

The government has also decided to call technical teams of Ola Electric and Okinawa Scooter for an explanation on recent fires in their EVs.