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Defective battery cells and modules have been recognized because the main trigger of electrical scooters catching fireplace in India in current weeks, based on the findings of an preliminary federal investigation, two authorities sources advised Reuters.
The probe appeared into fireplace incidents involving three firms, together with Ola Electric, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, and was the nation’s top-selling e-scooter maker in April.
“In Ola’s case, the battery cells have been discovered to be a difficulty in addition to the battery administration system,” stated one of many sources, who has direct information of the report.
In March, India launched an investigation over security issues after a spate of e-scooter fires, together with one the place a person and his daughter died when their e-bike “went up in flames”.
India desires e-scooters and e-bikes to make up 80% of complete two-wheeler gross sales by 2030, from about 2% right now. However issues over security jeopardise client confidence and will derail progress of a sector that’s key to the nation’s carbon discount targets.
“The federal government has taken samples of cells from the three firms to make additional checks,” the particular person stated, including that the ultimate investigation report is anticipated in about two weeks.
Ola, which sources its cells from South Korea’s LG Power Resolution (LGES), says it’s working with the federal government on the problem and has appointed an exterior professional company, along with conducting its personal probe.
“As per the preliminary evaluation of those consultants, there was no fault of the Ola battery administration system in any respect and it was seemingly an remoted thermal incident,” an organization spokesperson stated in a press release.
“The Indian authorities’s report has not but been launched or shared with us. We can’t touch upon the report as we have now not but recognized the foundation reason for the Ola scooter incident in March,” LGES in Seoul stated in a press release to Reuters.
On April 18, an govt at LGES in India, Prashant Kumar, advised Reuters that the corporate and Ola are “collaborating on an unlucky incident and in search of to grasp the foundation trigger.”
The federal government probe additionally appeared into fireplace incidents involving scooters constructed by Indian startups Okinawa and PureEV. In Okinawa’s case there was a difficulty with the cells and battery modules and for PureEV it was the battery casing, stated the primary supply.
PureEV and Okinawa didn’t reply to an e-mail in search of remark however have beforehand stated they’re investigating the fires and have issued a recall of some scooters.
The preliminary findings of the investigation have prompted the federal government to contemplate testing battery cells of e-scooters earlier than they’re allowed to launch, stated the second supply.
India at the moment checks the battery packs however not the cells that are primarily imported from South Korea or China.
“If India decides to check the cells, it should construct the infrastructure and experience,” stated the particular person.
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