- Central government took action on 7 e-rickshaw battery control apps.
- Complaints were received about remotely switching off the battery of e-rickshaw through these apps.
- Google and Apple were instructed to remove these apps from the store.
- This step will provide great relief to thousands of e-rickshaw drivers.
If you drive an e-rickshaw or are associated with an electric vehicle, then this news is very important for you. The Central Government has initiated action against 7 such mobile apps which were allegedly being misused to remotely control or switch off the battery of e-rickshaws. For this reason, the government has asked Google and Apple to remove these apps from their respective app stores. It is believed that this decision may provide relief to thousands of e-rickshaw drivers.
Many videos and complaints were surfacing on social media for some time. It was claimed that some people used to suddenly switch off the battery of the e-rickshaw while moving by using mobile apps related to Battery Management System (BMS). Due to this, drivers used to get stuck in the middle of the road and they had to face problems in front of the passengers. Many drivers also said that due to such incidents their daily earnings are being affected.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a notice to Google Android and Apple iOS. The ministry has asked both the companies to remove a total of 7 apps including BAT-BMS from their app stores. The government says that if any app is being used to endanger people’s safety or affect public order, then it is necessary to take action against such apps. This is the reason why the decision was taken to remove these apps.
What is BAT-BMS App?
Apps related to BAT-BMS i.e. Battery Management System are usually used to view the battery status, charging, temperature and other technical information. These apps help in monitoring the battery, but if they are misused, the functioning of the battery can be affected. For this reason, the government has adopted a strict stance regarding the security of such apps.
Also read – E-rickshaws are being hacked from mobile phones on the road? Read the full story of BAT-BMS controversy and EV cyber security
How will e-rickshaw drivers get the benefit?
After this action of the government, e-rickshaw drivers are expected to get big relief. If misuse of such apps is stopped, then incidents like stopping of e-rickshaws while moving can be reduced. This will save drivers’ time, reduce the impact on their employment and make passengers’ journey safer than before.
Will all e-rickshaws be affected?
Experts say that this problem is not present in every e-rickshaw. This risk has been seen only in some batteries which have the facility of getting access through mobile app. Therefore, vehicles which do not have such a system do not need to worry. However, while purchasing a battery, it must be ensured that it has adequate safety features and that its software is secure.
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