EV fire incidents: Consumer protection regulator issues notices to 4-5 companies

PTI, Jul 26, 2022, 3:41 PM IST

Representative Image (Source: Business Standard)

Consumer protection regulator CCPA on Tuesday said it has issued notices to 4-5 Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers, taking suo moto cognizance of consumer complaints regarding a series of battery explosions in EVs.

Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said the authority will commence the hearing on this matter soon.

”We have issued notices to 4-5 companies. We asked them to provide reasons for a series of fire incidents in EVs and why the regulator should not take action against them,” Khare told reporters.

The loss of life has been reported due to EV fire incidents and this raises a question of whether the product sold passed the standard testing manuals, she said.

The CCPA received several complaints and took suo moto action, she said.

The CCPA chief also mentioned that it has asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was tasked with investigating EV fire incidents by the Union road transport and highways ministry, to submit its report.

She said the other concerned ministries are also examining this issue.