Social Media Trend Stalls E-Rickshaws Mid-Journey
A new social media trend is causing e-rickshaws to stall unexpectedly across Indian cities, not due to mechanical failure but through a smartphone app. Videos circulating on Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and X show individuals connecting to nearby e-rickshaws via the BAT-BMS app and remotely cutting off the battery discharge, bringing vehicles to an abrupt halt.
The app, originally designed to help mechanics monitor lithium battery health, includes a Bluetooth feature that can cut a battery's discharge. Many budget e-rickshaws and scooters in India use these batteries without password protection, allowing anyone within 10 to 15 meters to connect and disable the vehicle.
Impact on Drivers and Public Reaction
The trend, often labeled as "tirri control" and framed as payback for reckless driving, has drawn mixed reactions. While some view it as justified, others point out that many drivers operate rented vehicles on daily wages and have no idea how to restore power. Some drivers have reportedly paid strangers Rs 100 to Rs 200 to get their vehicles running again.
Mumbai-based entrepreneur Ritu Hathi described witnessing the aftermath: a stalled e-rickshaw caused traffic backup, and the driver had to push it to the roadside and tow it to a mechanic. She expressed sympathy after learning he lost a day's income and still had to pay for repairs.
Influencer Amaan Siddiqui encountered a similar situation and helped by reconnecting the battery himself. He later told ANI that the driver broke down after realizing he had lost Rs 400 to Rs 500 in earnings from the rented vehicle.
Security Flaw Prompts Government Action
A senior Delhi government official noted that weak authentication is at the core of the problem, as the batteries require no password, making disconnection quick and easy. There is no official estimate of how many drivers have been affected, and the viral videos have not been independently verified.
In response, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has ordered the removal of BAT-BMS and a similar app, Epoch Li-ion, from the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.
