83 EVs caught fire in Karnataka in last 4 years; Okinawa, Ola report most cases

Of the 83 fire incidents, 65 are attributed to power leakages, 13 due to battery explosion and five due to accidental fire. Most cases involve electric two-wheelers, followed by electric cars, autos and buses. In 11 incidents, fire was reported in the electric vehicle showrooms in Bengaluru, Davanagere, Dakshina Kannada, Ballari, Chikkabalapura and Kalaburgi.

Additionally, of the 83 cases, 44 have been reported in Bengaluru, eight in Dakshina Kannada, four each in Dharwad, Davanagere, and Kalaburgi, three each in Mandya and Belagavi, two each in Ramanagara, Udupi, Mysore, and Ballari, and one each in Chamarajanagar, Chikkabalapura, Koppal, Raichur and Chitradurga.

The government identified the EV company’s name in only a few cases. Okinawa Scooters topped the list with nine incidents of fire, followed by Ola, which reported five such incidents. Meanwhile, Ather reported only two incidents. According to the data, four electric two-wheelers in the Raichur district reportedly caught fire during the peak of summer in May 2024.

The data assumes significance in light of the ongoing incidents of disgruntled customers expressing ire against EV companies, including Ola and others, over the poor performance of the electric two-wheelers and, in some instances, the vehicles catching fire. In October 2024, an Ola electric scooter caught fire outside its showroom in Bengaluru’s BTM layout. The incident was captured on video and went viral on social media. Netizens mocked the incident, calling it a “Diwali gift” to Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal.

In November 2024, a 26-year-old woman was charred to death, three people suffered injuries in the fire and over 25 electric scooters were destroyed in a fire that broke out at an electric vehicle showroom on Dr Rajkumar Road in Rajajinagar. The government, in its data, attributed the cause of fire to a battery explosion in one of the vehicles that caused the accident.

Patil said, “To ensure the safety of batteries used in electric vehicles, the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has mandated that battery-operated vehicles comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, including IS 15886, 18590, and 186060.”

He added, “The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the country’s leading automotive R&D organization, was established by the automotive industry in collaboration with the Government of India. As an autonomous body under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, ARAI plays a key role in testing and certifying vehicles under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. As the primary testing and certification agency notified under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, ARAI certifies vehicles for safety, low emissions, high efficiency, and reliability. Manufacturers are required to produce vehicles in compliance with the certifications issued by ARAI to maintain industry standards.”