EV fire incidents: Manufacturers get notice from consumer protection regulator

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said the authority will commence the hearing on this matter soon.

ET Now Digital

Updated Jul 27, 2022, 12:27 IST

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The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to four-five electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, taking suo motu cognizance of incidents related to battery explosions in e-vehicles.

CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said the authority will commence the hearing on this matter soon.

"We have issued notices to 4-5 companies. We asked them to provide reasons for series of fire incidents in EVs and why the regulator should not take action against them,” Khare said on Tuesday.

The loss of life has been reported due to EV fire incidents and this raises a question whether the product sold passed the standard testing manuals, she said.

The CCPA received several complains and took suo motu action, she said.

Nidhi Khare also mentioned that it has asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was tasked with investigating into EV fire incidents by the Union road transport and highways ministry, to submit its report.

She said the other concerned ministries are also looking into this issue.

In the EV segment, there have been many such incidents in the recent past when vehicles caught fire.

Electric two-wheeler makers such as Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech and Pure EV recalled their scooters in the wake many such incidents.

These fire incidents had prompted the government to form a panel to examine and had warned vehicle makers of penalties if they were found to be negligent.

Last month, a video went viral showing Tata Motors Nexon EV catching fire on Mumbai road, prompting the automaker to initiate a 'detailed investigation' to know the reason behind the incident.

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