this blew up this week — government stepped in after viral videos showed people remotely shutting down e-rickshaws mid-ride using phone apps.

What triggered it

Videos circulated Thursday showing people using a smartphone app to connect via Bluetooth to nearby e-rickshaws and kill the battery discharge, stopping the vehicles while moving. That raised major safety + cybersecurity red flags. 

Government action — 3 apps ordered removed

MeitY told Google Play Store and Apple App Store to pull these apps:

BAT-BMS – Chinese app by Shenzhen Grenergy Technology

Lossigy

Epoch-i-ion / Epoch Li-ion . 

IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed Friday that the apps “came to our notice yesterday and both of them have been taken down from the app stores”. Government sources later clarified all three got removal orders. 

Why it’s a problem

How the apps work: BAT-BMS is meant to monitor Bluetooth lithium-ion batteries — voltage, temp, charge cycles, health. It also lets users control battery discharge functions.

The vulnerability: Many e-rickshaws/e2Ws in India ship with BMS that have no password or use factory-default credentials. So anyone within Bluetooth range ∼10-15m could pair and shut power remotely.

Risk: Sudden shutdowns on busy roads = passenger/driver safety hazard. 

What’s next

App store oversight: MeitY says app stores need to “exercise due care” and will engage with them to keep harmful apps off platforms.

State action: Delhi govt asked its transport dept to verify BAT-BMS and investigate the remote-disable claims. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh called it illegal and said police will act.

Broader EV security review: Govt examining cybersecurity implications for connected battery systems in EVs. 

Current status: BAT-BMS was removed from both stores after MeitY’s order. Though one report noted an app was still downloadable as of their check, and APKs may still circulate.

This is part of a wider crackdown on connected vehicle vulnerabilities. The concern isn’t the battery-monitoring function itself, but unsecured Bluetooth access letting anyone hit the “kill switch”. 6c3c