EV Fires: Expert committee to submit report on May 30

The expert committee constituted to enquire into the recent incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire across India shall be submitting its report next week.

"The expert committee will submit its report on May 30," a senior government official confirmed in a PTI report.

Following reports of a spate of electric two-wheelers catching fire across the country, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transportation and Highways in April tweeted that an expert committee had been set up by the government to enquire into the recent e-2W fire incidents and will soon release recommendations on remedial steps.

Cautioning the manufacturing companies of strict action, Mr. Gadkari's also warned, "if any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed, and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered."

Between February to April this year, a number of e-2W fire incidents were reported across India. Following this, nearly 6,000 e-2W models of the concerned batches were recalled by prominent EV automakers such as Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, and Ola Electric.

While the companies investigate the matter internally and continue taking measures to address defective e-2W models, the industry now awaits comprehensive quality-centric guidelines for EVs along with remedial steps. 

The Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) has been asked to probe the circumstances according to the Road Transport Ministry.