Lok Sabha Question No. 4559 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Incidents of Fire in Electric Vehicles
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Thirumaa Valavan Thol

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4559 ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

## INCIDENTS OF FIRE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

## 4559. SHRI THIRUMAAVALAVAN THOL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the incidences of fire in vehicles due to the defective battery in battery operated electric vehicles;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has the details of the number of incidents of fire in vehicles due to the defective battery in hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, other battery operated electric vehicles manufactured in the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof including the number of deaths and the reasons therefor?

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

- (a) to (d): Yes  Sir,  as  per  information  available  received  from  the  Ministry  of  Road Transport and Highways, incidents of fire accidents have been reported in Electric two-wheeler, manufactured by Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors.

Further, the prototypes / components of electric vehicles are tested by the test agencies notified  under  Rule  126  of  Central  Motor  Vehicles  Rules,  1989,  for  compliance  to  standards notified by MoRTH.

MoRTH had constituted an investigating team of independent experts from DRDO, Indian Institute  of  Science  (IISC)  Bengaluru,  and  Naval  Science  &  Technological  Laboratory  (NSTL) Visakhapatnam to investigate into the root cause of fire and recommend remedial measures.

Ministry  of  Road  and  Transport  and  Highways  had  also  constituted  a  committee  of experts to suggest formulation of safety standards for the battery and its components, BMS and related systems in electric vehicles.  Based on the recommendation of the committee, Ministry of Road  Transport  and  Highways  vide  S.O.  4567(E)  dated  28 th September,  2022  has  brought amendment  to  the  Automotive  Industry  Standards,  AIS:156  [Specific  requirements  for  L  (a motor vehicle less than four wheels and quadricycle) category electric power train vehicles] and AIS:038  (Rev  2)  [Specific  Requirements  for  M Category,  (a  motor  vehicle  with  at  least  four wheels used for carrying passenger) N Category (a motor vehicle with at least four wheels used for  carrying  goods)  Electric  Power  Train  Vehicles]  to  prescribe Technical  Requirements  for Traction  Battery  of  L,  M  and  N  Category  of  Electric  Power  Train  Vehicles.  The  said Amendments are applicable from 1 st December, 2022 and some clauses of these AIS standards will be effective from 31st March, 2023.

Further, MoRTH had issued the draft notification, vide G.S.R 659 (E) dated 25 th August 2022, for the requirements of Conformity of Production (COP), in respect of all categories of Electric vehicles including Quadricycles, E- rickshaws, two wheelers, and four wheelers.

********