Several incidents of electric vehicle (EV) fires in recent months have dampened the celebrations associated with the new electric revolution, prompting the government to convene a group of experts to examine the problem.
Following many reports of electric scooters catching fire, a report of a Tata Nexon EV exploding into flames surfaced on June 22.
Earlier on June 22, a Tata Nexon EV caught fire in Vasai West (near Panchvati hotel) in Mumbai. After driving approximately 5 kilometers towards his residence, the Nexon’s owner noticed warning flashes on the dashboard and came to a halt.
The Nexon EV was apparently charged using a standard slow charger installed at the owner’s workplace. After getting alerts from the vehicle’s instrument cluster, the owner phoned the service center and was instructed by Tata Motors service staff to exit the vehicle immediately and stand at a safe distance.
After getting alerts from the vehicle’s instrument cluster, the owner phoned the repair center and was instructed by Tata Motors service workers to exit the vehicle immediately and stand at a safe distance.
Tata Motors issued a statement following the fire incident, stating, “A thorough investigation is presently underway to uncover the circumstances of this rare occurrence. Following that, we will provide a more complete response. We are still dedicated to the safety of our cars and their passengers.”
Meanwhile, the government has instructed the Centre for Fire, Explosive, and Environment Safety (CFEES) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event and to recommend corrective actions.
It is important to note that this is the first incident after more than 30,000 EVs have cumulatively covered over 100 million kilometres across the country in nearly four years, according to Tata Motors.
Though the reputable carmaker claimed to be investigating the cause of their vehicle catching fire, questions have been raised about how safe EVs are in India and how EV fires might be avoided.
Reference- Mint, HT Auto, Tata Motors website, Economic Times, Mercom India, Indian Express, CNBC