Adding to the several incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire, Gurugram-based Okinawa Autotech's dealership in Tamil Nadu recently burned down to ashes. The fire was reportedly put out with the help of locals and thankfully no injuries were reported. The incident emerges amidst Okinawa's voluntary recall of 3,215 PraisePro electric scooters to inspect the battery health and check for loose terminals. In an official response to carandbike, Okinawa confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit at the dealership and did not have anything to do with the ongoing battery recall.
Also Read: Okinawa Issues Recall For 3215 E-Scooters
The incident has once again shed light on the escalating number of fires related to electric vehicles this summer. On March 26, 2022, a father and daughter lost their lives after the battery of an Okinawa scooter blew up while charging at their home. On the same day, Ola's S1 Pro electric scooter went up in flames in Pune, making headlines. There were separate incidents reported involving the PureEV electric scooter soon after, while 20 electric scooters from Jitendra EV were burnt to ashes while being transported in a container.
Okinawa has issued a recall for 3,215 units of the PraisePro e-scooter for battery health check-ups
These incidents have highlighted the need for more stringent safety regulations and compliance when it comes to the manufacturing and sale of electric vehicles. At present, there are two regulatory standards set by ARAI - AIS 048 for batteries and AIS 156 for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and quadricycles. Do note that the AIS 048 standard will be discontinued from December 2022 with electric two-wheelers required to meet safety standards under the AIS 156 standard under the L category. Meanwhile, the M & N category vehicles will find the AIS 038 Rev 2 standard applicable wherein the battery and vehicle are considered as a single unit.
Also Read: Okinawa Okhi-90 Electric Scooter Launched In India
Following a series of EV fires in recent weeks, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) recently ordered a probe into the incidents of electric scooters catching fire. Details from the investigation are awaited at the moment.
