The summer season in India has seen a raft of fire incidents relating to electric scooters in the country. Some of these fire incidents have been fatal and it calls for a comprehensive investigation of the root causes. Another fire incident involving electric scooters has been reported in India. A total of 20 out of 40 Jitendra EV scooters inside a container were engulfed in fire on April 9, as reported by the company. Fortunately, no casualties were reported and the fire was quickly put out, according to Jitendra EV.
The electric scooters were in the upper carriage of the container and were being transported away from the factory when the fire incident broke out. The remaining 20 scooters in the container were not affected by the fire. Jitendra EV in a statement said it has launched an investigation into the fire incident to ascertain the cause of the fire. Jitendra EV continues to harp on safety as its key plank, stressing that it will come up with its findings in the coming days.
The increased incidence of e-scooter fires is not unconnected with the battery packs of these scooters in combination with the increased temperatures across the country during summer. Although a detailed report is being expected from the manufacturer, there is a need to continue to explore improvements to the overall safety of electric scooters in the subcontinent. While these fire incidents could be seen as teething problems, it is key that the issue is resolved quickly.
The Indian two-wheeler EV market is growing rapidly amidst several layers of government incentives. It is therefore important to sustain customer confidence in the safety of electric scooters sold in the country, especially fires due to battery issues. If the situation is not nipped in the bud, it is capable of stalling the growth and demand for Indian-manufactured electric scooters.
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