Delhi e-rickshaw drivers fear app-based battery shutdowns amid safety concerns

Many e-rickshaw drivers operating across Delhi’s busy Metro corridors say they are living in fear after a smartphone application allegedly began shutting down their vehicles in the middle of the road without warning, leaving them stranded amid speeding traffic and exposing passengers to the risk of serious accidents.

Safety concerns have emerged after videos circulated on social media purportedly showed people using a Chinese Bluetooth-enabled battery management application to remotely switch off compatible lithium-ion battery-powered e-rickshaws.

Following the circulation of the videos, the Delhi government has ordered a probe into the claims.

Drivers plying on some of Delhi’s busiest routes said that an unexpected shutdown on arterial roads could prove fatal as vehicles often travel close behind e-rickshaws, leaving little time to react.

Shree Ram, who ferries passengers between Punjabi Bagh West Metro and Peeragarhi Metro, said the route witnesses heavy traffic throughout the day and e-rickshaws often have to wait for passengers on both ends.

“I have heard that several e-rickshaws suddenly stopped on the main road. When a vehicle comes to a halt in the middle of traffic, it becomes dangerous as speeding vehicles approach from behind,” Ram said.

He said the situation could turn fatal for both passengers and drivers.

“We constantly fear that someone may ram into us from behind,” he said.

Ankush Kumar, who operates between West Enclave and Pitampura, said he initially believed repeated shutdowns were due to a battery malfunction.

“My e-rickshaw kept switching off. I thought there was a battery fault and spent Rs 500 to get it checked, but no defect was found. Later I came to know that everything was happening because of this Chinese app. When the vehicle stops, passengers refuse to pay and simply board another e-rickshaw. What may look like a joke to some people has become life-threatening for us on the road,” he said.

Kumar said drivers were not only suffering financial losses but were also under constant mental stress while driving in congested traffic.

According to reports, some lithium-ion battery packs used in e-rickshaws come equipped with Bluetooth-enabled Battery Management Systems (BMS) that allow users to monitor battery health through dedicated mobile applications. Security experts say certain battery systems lack adequate authentication, allowing anyone within Bluetooth range to connect and disable the battery’s discharge function, bringing the vehicle to an abrupt halt. Older lead-acid battery-powered e-rickshaws are generally not affected.

The issue has gained attention after multiple videos surfaced online showing content creators approaching moving or parked e-rickshaws, connecting to compatible batteries and remotely switching off the vehicles.

The videos have drawn criticism from social media users, many of whom warned that such acts could result in fatal road accidents.

Another e-rickshaw driver Mohammad Siraj, who operates on the Kohat Enclave-Netaji Subhash Place route, claimed that some people were allegedly locking batteries through the application.

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“Some people are locking the battery using the app. Now e-rickshaw drivers also have to download the same application to unlock it in an emergency. Sometimes only the person who has the app can unlock the battery. It is creating huge problems for drivers. If the e-rickshaw stops on the main road, it becomes a major safety risk. Police should take action against such app users,” Siraj added.

The Delhi government has directed the Transport Department to verify the authenticity of the claims and examine the safety implications.