EV fires: Companies told to act; quality rules soon

The Centre has asked electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to take “advance action” to recall all defective batches of vehicles immediately and has said that it would soon issue quality-centric guidelines for EVs. This comes in the wake of over a dozen instances of electric scooters erupting into flames across the country, and even claiming lives in some cases.

In a series of tweets Thursday, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari cautioned EV makers that if they are found “negligent in their process”, the government will impose a heavy penalty and a recall of all of their defective EVs will be ordered. He also, for the first time, officially acknowledged the mishaps involving EVs in the country,