Soft targets: Testing standards to certify e-rickshaws do not include cybersecurity requirements. File photo for representational purposes only.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Union government on Friday (July 3, 2026) issued orders to block battery management apps after some users discovered they were able to remotely use them to shut down e-rickshaw batteries even as those vehicles were transporting passengers, an official said.
The apps, mostly developed by Chinese firms, appear to be designed for legitimate battery owners. The developers of three such apps —named by a Ministry official— Shenzhen Grenergy Technology, Shenzhen Ruichuang Lineng Technology, and Daly BMS, did not respond to queries from The Hindu.
It is unclear if banning the apps would completely eliminate the vulnerability, as these apps do not require internet access to hijack and shut off battery units without a configured password or PIN. Testing standards to certify e-rickshaws do not include cybersecurity requirements.
Lithium ion battery packs include battery management systems to monitor charge, voltage, temperature and cell health. Instagram reels demonstrating this vulnerability on roads went viral over the week, showing rickshaws grinding to a halt.
A senior official pointed out to The Hindu that stranding vehicles like this was a punishable offence, and that “regular IPC/BNS sections of criminal mischief will apply”.
In Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the police even caught one person demanding money from e-rickshaw drivers after using the exploit to disable their vehicles. Detailing the modus operandi, Neel Ganga Police Station in-charge Tarun Kuril stated that the racket came to light following a targeted extortion incident at Loti Tiraha.
“We received information that an auto-rickshaw driver’s vehicle had stalled at Loti Tiraha, and a young man charged him ₹200 under the pretext of fixing it. Upon inquiry, the driver revealed that e-rickshaws in the city are currently being shut down remotely — specifically, their batteries are being disabled via a mobile app. Some miscreants use this app to immobilise the vehicles and then demand money to restart them,” Mr. Kuril said.
(With agency inputs.)
Published – July 04, 2026 01:21 am IST
