Lok Sabha Question No. 234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Incidents of Fire in Electric Vehicles
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Sukanta Majumdar, Raja Amareshwara Naik, Jayanta Kumar Roy, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari, Midhun Reddy, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar, Rajveer (Raju Bhaiya) Singh, Ravneet Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 234

ANSWERED ON 19.07.2022

## INCIDENTS OF FIRE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

## 234. DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR:

DR. JAYANTA KUMAR ROY:

SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK:

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

SHRI RAVNEET SINGH BITTU:

SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

SHRIMATI SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

SHRI RAJVEER SINGH (RAJU BHAIYA):

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI THIRUNAVUKKARASAR SU:

Will the Minister of HEAVY INDUSTRIES भारी उद्योग मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether numerous scary fire incidents have been reported involving electric scooters/electric vehicles resulting in loss of lives and injury in various parts of the country thereby threatening the safety of commuters during the last six months and if so, the details thereof, month-wise and State-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  anticipates  any  slump  in  the  growth  rate  and  supply  of Electric Vehicles (EVs) due to these incidents in the future and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any measures including adequate testing facilities for imported components for EVs to ensure their assimilation with domestic conditions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  expert  committee  to  enquire  into  the above issues and for making any recommendations on remedial steps, to recall the whole lot of vehicles, action against the defective manufacturers and to ensure adequate compensation for the mishaps;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) whether the Government has issued necessary orders on the defaulting companies and if so, the details thereof including the other steps being taken in this regard so far?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

- (a): As  per  information  available,  fire  incidents  involving  electric  scooters/  electric vehicles, are as under: -
- (b) to (c)): As  per  vahan  portal,  there  is  no  downtrend  in  the  sale  of  EVs.    Testing  of components for EVs is done as per relevant standards, as specified in Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rule, 1989 to ensure compliance.
- (d)  to  (f): As  per  information  received  from  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways (MoRTH), expert committee was constituted with independent experts from DRDO, Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bengaluru and Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL) Visakhapatnam.

| Month       | State          |
|-------------|----------------|
| March- 2022 | Tamil Nadu     |
| April 2022  | Andhra Pradesh |

The following manufacturers have recalled vehicles:

- i. Okinawa has recalled 3215 units of vehicles on 16 th April, 2022.
- ii. Pure EV has recalled 2000 units of vehicles on 21 st April, 2022.
- iii. Ola Electric has recalled 1441 units of vehicles on 23 rd April, 2022.

Based on the information of fire incidents available, MoRTH has issued a show cause notice to the CEOs and MDs of the concerned two wheeler electric scooter manufacturers, to explain the reasons as to why the relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act should not be invoked against them.

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