Central government becomes strict on apps that drain the battery of e-rickshaw, notice to Google-Apple to remove them

New Delhi: The government has taken major action against apps that remotely shut down the batteries of e-rickshaws and electric vehicles. According to sources, the Ministry of Electronics and IT has sent a notice to Google and Apple asking them to remove 7 such apps from Android and iOS stores. There is a suspicion that by misusing these apps, vehicles were being stopped without the user’s consent.

Why was the step taken?   

Sources told media organization India Today that the batteries of e-rickshaws and EVs were being switched off remotely through these apps. This was stopping the operation of vehicles and creating danger for vehicle owners.

The aim of the government is to prevent misuse of such software which can interfere with the functioning of the battery. There has been no response to this notice from Google and Apple yet.

The matter is related to BAT-BMS app   

This action of the government is related to BAT-BMS app. It has been made by Chinese company Shenzhen Grenergy Technology. Actually it is a legitimate battery management system monitoring app. It helps users view the charge, voltage, current, temperature, charging cycles and cell condition of a lithium battery connected over Bluetooth.

Charging and discharging of compatible batteries can also be controlled from the app. But some people misused it to drain the battery of the e-rickshaw, after which the government came into action.

Can the app stop any e-rickshaw?   

Experts clarify that BAT-BMS cannot be connected to every EV. It only works with batteries that have a Bluetooth-enabled BMS unit.

Many e-rickshaws even today use lead-acid batteries which do not support Bluetooth. Many lithium battery manufacturers also use their own specialized BMS and apps, which do not match BAT-BMS.

For connection, the battery must support Bluetooth Low Energy and be compatible with the BAT-BMS platform. Therefore, the claim that anyone can stop an e-rickshaw standing nearby immediately is wrong.

Question on cyber security  

This is not a case of complex cyber attack, but of weak security settings. Some cheap lithium battery packs have weak or no password protection. In such a situation, any person standing within the Bluetooth range i.e. 10-15 meters can connect to the battery and turn off the discharge function.

This will cut off the power of the motor and the vehicle will stop. Experts believe that the fault is not of the BAT-BMS app, but of the security flaws of the BMS. This incident shows the need for stronger cyber security in India’s electric mobility sector.