The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued notices to Google Android and Apple iOS to remove seven mobile apps, according to sources reported by ANI. These apps, as reported, were being misused to disable e-rickshaw batteries.
What happened?
According to reports ANI cites, people were using battery management apps to connect to nearby e-rickshaw batteries via Bluetooth. Once connected, they could stop the battery from supplying power, leaving the vehicle unable to move.
ANI reported, citing sources, that these apps were identified as BAT-BMS, SMART BMS and LOSSIGY.
These apps were meant to help owners and technicians monitor the battery; however, if the battery system did not have proper security, the same apps could allegedly be used to interfere with its operation.
What is a battery management system?
Every lithium-ion battery has a battery management system (BMS). It acts as a battery’s control system, which checks charge, temperature, voltage and overall health of the device which is using said battery.
Many of these battery makers also provide smartphone apps that enable users to view this information. In some cases, these apps let the user change certain battery settings, such as modifying protection parameters meant to prevent overvoltage or overheating, typically after authentication, which makes maintenance and troubleshooting easier.
Why is this a concern?
The concern is that some of these battery systems reportedly lacked proper authentication, allowing nearby users to connect via Bluetooth and access controls they should not have been able to use.
For an e-rickshaw driver, this could mean the vehicle loses power without warning and comes to a halt in the middle of a trip.
Why did the government intervene?
As reported by ANI, e-rickshaws are an important part of public transport in many Indian cities, so any issue that can disable their batteries quickly becomes a public safety concern.
The reports cited by ANI add that MeitY has asked Google and Apple to remove the apps from their app stores while the matter is being examined.
Does this affect all electric vehicles?
According to ANI, the reports related only to those battery systems that allow the user to see such enabling controls and modify them, which are only used in some e-rickshaws. Most electric vehicles have stronger security measures and are not believed to be affected.
