An unfortunate incident is happening with electric vehicles due to the rising temperature in India. “Electric scooters are catching fire” sounds awful, doesn’t it. Of course, the situation is not only tarnishing the image of EVs but also losing buyers’ confidence. Since this is an early stage of the EV transition, fire accidents have shown great scope for improvement, especially in the battery department.
So far, scooters of companies like Ola, Okinawa, and Pure EV have caught fire. Even recently, the entire EV showroom in Madhya Pradesh state caught fire. These are not the only cases. Earlier in December 2021, a fire was reported in a Hero Electric showroom in Vizag. And in January 2022, there was a fire reported in an Ampere Electric showroom in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
Undoubtedly, India’s hot weather is causing worrying problems with the system of electric vehicles. Look, electrical systems are prone to temperature rise, and high temperatures can lead to a catastrophic situation. EVs not only have a complex electrical system but also contain a lithium-ion battery pack, which is more sensitive to higher temperatures.
Not every electric scooter is catching fire which means accidents may also be due to the mishandling of EVs. If any kind of carelessness leads to a serious accident, especially a fire, it means that there is room for safety improvement.
Some Causes of EV Fire Accidents
Apart from high temperatures, general wear and tear in a lithium-ion battery are capable of causing fire problems in any device. So, what do you think? Lithium-ion batteries and electrical systems are the culprits of fire. Although the answers are simple, logical, and self-explanatory, many EV companies missed out and rushed to take over the market.
Tarun Mehta, CEO, and Founder, of Ather Energy, via CNBC-TV18, explained some key points regarding the issue. Firstly he said that the lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles are imported from a foreign country, like china, which is not designed for Indian weather conditions.
Every country has different weather conditions, and yes, what works in the US, China, and Korea, is almost guaranteed to not work in India, even though the batteries are coming from leading manufacturers – Tarun added. Currently, Ola is sourcing lithium-ion cells from Korea and has plans to make them domestically.
Secondly, he said that Indian users demand high speed, at least 70-80 Kmph, in electric scooters. However, a country like China has mostly low-speed electric scooters. And many companies import battery packs instead of making them themselves. Therefore, importing and using low-speed EV battery packs in high-powered Indian EVs puts more load on the battery. More load on the battery means more heat.
An appropriately thorough investigation is necessary to determine the main cause of a fire accident such as an overheated EV or battery pack, electrical short circuit, water problems, or other mechanical failures.
More R&D and Safety Standard Needed
Using EV architectures from other countries that are designed for totally different environments, weather conditions, temperatures, and handling will not work well for India. Unless the architecture is specifically re-engineered to work in India. In short, some country-specific research and development are necessary as the Indian situation is harsh, especially with temperature.
Moreover, the EV ecosystem within India is not yet very developed. Also, there is a lack of proper safety regulations, testing infrastructure, certification, etc. However, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, addressed the EV fire accident in Lok Sabha. And he said he is well aware of the incidents and waiting for the final report of the expert committee. The government looks strict on the electric scooter fire issue, and we may see necessary developments soon.
Electric vehicle manufacturers need to spend more time on the R&D of products to meet higher safety standards. Simply copying and pasting the design will not work for long. There is also a fact that our industries do not have adequate experienced people in this field as we have with conventional fuel combustion vehicles. Undoubtedly, EV technology needs more time to get matured.
Safety measures
Tarun Mehta said if your electric scooter catches fire, then you can take some safety measures to avoid it. Pour plenty of water to extinguish the fire as well as call firefighters. Keep in mind that the CO2 fire extinguisher will not work here. Moreover, stay away from the vehicle even after the fire is extinguished.
Things to avoid
- Avoid parking your EV in an area with high temperatures or in direct sunlight for long periods.
- Charge your EV under a sheltered area away from any flammable material
- Check battery status regularly.
- Do not try to alter or modify any electrical connection