Here’s why EVs (electric vehicles) such as Ola S1 Pro and Pure EV ePluto are catching fire in India.
Over the last couple of months, several reports of electric scooters going up in flames have surfaced online. And these are not just any other scooters, but electric two-wheelers from top brands such as Ola, Okinawa, and Pure EV. The reports are coming at a time when EVs are considered an alternative to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, amidst the rising cost of petrol prices. Sales of electric scooters more than doubled in 2021. With India yet to see a boom in the electric vehicle space, incidents like these might discourage people from buying electric vehicles. While the companies are still inspecting the matter, we take a look at the probable causes that may have resulted in these accidents. As many as six electric vehicle fire incidents have been reported in India this year alone. A couple of them are from Pure EV, while the identity of one electric scooter remains vauge at the moment. Here’s a list of electric vehicles that have reportedly gone up in flames in the country recently: An electric vehicle comprises several components such as an accelerator, controller, and a rear hub motor, which is powered by a lithium-ion or Li-ion battery. It’s the same battery that is used in your smartphone and smartwatch. While a Li-ion battery is better than the regular lead based-batteries owing to its lightweight design and long lifespan, it can get hot enough to start a fire if the right mechanism is not applied. There can be various factors that may contribute to battery failures, with the most common being high external thermal temperatures, electric short circuits and even manufacturing defects in some cases.
