Lok Sabha Question No. 1534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Incidents of Fire in Electric Vehicles
Ministry: HEAVY INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1534

ANSWERED ON 12.12.2023

## INCIDENTS OF FIRE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES

## 1534. SHRI HIBI EDEN :

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

- (a) whether the Government has the details and the number of incidents of fire in vehicles due to  the  defective  battery  in  hybrid  electric  vehicles,  plug-in  hybrid  electric  vehicles  and  other battery-operated electric vehicles manufactured in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the number of deaths occured as a result of the same, State/UTwise and the reasons therefor;
- (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 there is any expert committee to enquire into the above issues; and
- (e) whether the Government has issued necessary instructions on the defaulting companies, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES

## (SHRI KRISHAN PAL GURJAR)

- (a) & (b): Yes Sir, as per information received from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, incidents of fire accidents have been reported in Electric two-wheelers, manufactured by Okinawa Autotech, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, Ola Electric and Boom Motors.
- (c): Yes Sir, 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.
- (d): Yes Sir, 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 31 st March, 2023.

(e): Yes Sir, MoRTH had issued the draft notification, vide G.S.R 659 (E) dated 25th 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.

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