In the most recent incidence in Telangana, a man perished after the electric scooter’s removable battery burst in his home as it was being charged.
Consumers and stakeholders have been alarmed recently by a string of incidents involving electric vehicles (EV), notably electric two-wheelers, catching fire in various parts of the nation. In the most recent incident, which occurred in Telangana on the evening of Tuesday, April 19, a man lost his life when the electric scooter’s removable battery, which was being charged there, detonated. Twenty Jitendra EV scooters, one Ola, two Okinawa, and three Pure EV scooters have already caught fire. Then why are there so many incidents lately?
Are the hot summer days to blame?
While it may be simple to blame the EV fires on rising temperatures, experts advise examining the way a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is constructed. Li-ion batteries, which are frequently regarded as efficient and lightweight, power EVs. They also present a fire risk, though.
“Common myths like Indian summers and inadequate thermal management being the cause of (fire breakouts) are untrue. According to Exponent Energy, a startup in the EV industry, the recent fires you’ve seen are the result of thermal runaway. According to Exponent Energy, li-ion batteries must heat up to a few hundred degrees before experiencing a thermal runaway occurrence.
“Around 45 to 55°C, the majority of contemporary batteries automatically shut down. Batteries cannot heat themselves up by a few hundred degrees Celsius during normal operations, therefore even if these thermal-based safety measures don’t work, a thermal runaway (fire) won’t occur, the blog stated.
The cause of 99% of battery fires is short circuits that result in unregulated current. Only in this situation do cells reach temperatures above 100°C, the business wrote in a blog post.
Poor cell quality, poor battery design, and a subpar battery management system, where cells are not effectively controlled with the appropriate software intelligence, have all been suggested as causes of short circuits.
Ather Energy’s founder, Tarun Mehta, told the Indian Express that manufacturers do not devote enough time to product design and that government-mandated testing standards might not be sufficient to effectively simulate all real-life scenarios.
Avoid charging the EV battery right away after the vehicle has stopped operating since the li-ion cells inside the battery continue to heat up for a while. Put the battery on charge after allowing it to cool down.
— Only use the battery and charging cord that are specifically intended for the vehicle. Damage to the electric vehicle may arise from using a local battery because it is less expensive.
— If the battery is detachable, keep it in regions with good ventilation and keep it out of the sun and hot cars. Make sure to purchase replacement batteries and chargers that are compatible with the originals and are from a reputable supplier or the manufacturer.
— Before using your battery, check it occasionally for damage. If you find anything wrong with it, stop using it right away and contact the manufacturer. Avoid using the battery if it is too hot or displays any damage.
Government intervenes
The government has reacted to an increase in occurrences of electric two-wheelers catching fire. Nitin Gadkari, a union minister, said on Thursday that after hearing the findings of an expert panel that was assembled to look into the situation, a recall of all defective vehicles will be required and that any corporations found to have been careless would face penalties. Gadkari said in a series of tweets that the government would soon release quality-focused regulations for electric cars in view of recent revelations regarding many accidents involving electric two-wheelers.
After an e-scooter produced by ride-hailing giant Ola’s electric mobility division caught fire in Pune last month, the authorities commissioned an investigation.
According to the road transport ministry, the Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) was tasked with investigating the incident’s circumstances and making recommendations for corrective action. The ministry had also requested that CFEES disclose its findings and recommendations for how to stop such events.
On Thursday, the government’s think tank Niti Aayog also unveiled a proposed battery swapping strategy for electric vehicles, along with incentives and a strict testing procedure.
Given the significance of the two- and three-wheeler vehicle segments in expanding cities, the Aayog further stated in its draught policy that all significant cities, including as state capitals, UT headquarters, and cities with a population above 5 lakh, will be covered under the second phase.
The goal of the policy is to create an environment of parity for all business models including the sale of EVs with fixed or interchangeable batteries.
