The Union government has ordered the removal of three smartphone applications: BAT-BMS, Epoch-i-ion, and Lossigy from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store after reports that they could be used to disable e-rickshaws remotely. Sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said the order was issued over security concerns and the possibility of misuse, adding that the matter remains under investigation and is being closely monitored.
Speaking on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) cybersecurity summit on Friday, IT Secretary S Krishnan confirmed that the government had already acted against two of the applications. “there are a couple of apps, which came to our notice yesterday and both of them have been taken down from the app stores,” he said. Krishnan added that the government would raise the issue with app stores to ensure they conduct adequate due diligence before allowing potentially harmful applications to remain available to users.
The controversy emerged after videos and social media posts showed e-rickshaws being remotely shut down through Bluetooth-enabled battery management systems, allegedly using the BAT-BMS application.
However, MediaNama found that BAT-BMS, Epoch-i-ion, and Lossigy were still available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store at the time of writing, despite the government’s directive to remove them.
What do the apps do? The apps are designed to communicate with Bluetooth-enabled battery management systems (BMS) used in lithium-ion battery packs. Manufacturers and technicians use such apps to monitor battery health, check charging and discharge parameters, diagnose faults, and configure battery settings.
However, versions of these apps can also access controls that allow users to enable or disable battery discharge. When paired with vulnerable battery systems, that functionality can effectively cut power to an e-rickshaw, rendering it inoperable.
Why are they working on e-rickshaws? The issue appears to stem from the widespread use of third-party aftermarket battery systems in many e-rickshaws. According to a Financial Express report, several of these Bluetooth-enabled battery packs lack default passwords, authentication, or stronger access controls before allowing a device to connect. As a result, anyone within Bluetooth range, typically around 10 to 15 metres, can pair with the battery using a compatible application. Once connected, the app can access battery firmware settings and toggle the master discharge function, cutting power to the vehicle.
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