In yet another fire incident involving electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. At least seven electric bikes caught fire at a showroom here reportedly due to overcharging.
The fire brigade had to be brought in to douse the fire at the showroom situated near the Gangadham area of Market Yard on Monday night. Reports earlier claimed that the EV fire engulfed a showroom that sells electric two-wheelers and bikes from Komaki India. However, Subhash Sharma, Operation Head, Komaki, stated that the recent fire incident caused at a showroom is actually not a Komaki vehicle and doesn’t contain the original battery provided with the scooter.
“The showroom is multi-brand. The claim for cause of fire which is described as overcharging is also very suspectful as battery being charged by dealer in case of overheating normally should emit smoke only as chemistry of the battery is ‘LIPO4’ and should heat up to 115 degree Celsius which cannot be ignored,” Sharma explained.
Moreover, he said, after going through the service record, “we have proof that the vehicle being claimed as cause of fire was subject to removal of batteries and didn’t contain company connectors”.
No one was hurt during the EV fire incident. The staff at the showroom spotted fire in one e-bike, which later spread to six others, destroying them all.
The showroom dealer said in a statement that the cause of the fire was not known yet and they were inspecting the cause of the fire incident. Alarmed at the continuing fire incidents, the government-formed committee to formulate new guidelines for EVs is set to submit its report soon.