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India takes down battery apps after e rickshaw shutdown pranks
The Hindu··4 Jul
Indian officials on July 4, 2026, removed two smartphone apps from stores after viral videos showed people using Chinese battery management apps to remotely cut power to e-rickshaws mid-ride via Bluetooth. IT ministry official S Krishnan confirmed BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion were taken down. Only lithium battery packs with unsecured Bluetooth-enabled management systems were affected, not lead-acid models.
Prism
What It Means For You
- E-rickshaw drivers face income loss from remote shutdown pranks.
- Bluetooth security gaps in EV components pose safety risks on roads.
- App store removals may not fully address underlying hardware vulnerabilities.
What's Happening
- Two battery management apps were removed from stores on July 4.
- Viral videos showed pranksters stalling e-rickshaws remotely.
- Delhi police will investigate the incidents.
Technology Context
- Affected vehicles used unsecured Chinese lithium battery management systems.
- The discharge switch was intended for mechanic maintenance use.
- Incidents increased significantly over the past week.
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