The government has said it took cognisance of reports that certain Battery Management System (BMS) mobile applications allowed unauthorised remote control of e-rickshaw batteries, enabling their misuse. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on July 22, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada said the government issued orders on July 3, 2026, directing app stores to remove such applications. The reply came in response to concerns over apps allegedly being used to remotely disable e-rickshaws.
However, the government did not disclose whether it had identified those responsible or whether it planned to introduce mandatory cybersecurity and authentication standards for battery management systems or related mobile applications. Instead, it highlighted the existing cybersecurity framework already in place.
Government cybersecurity framework:
- National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC): Coordinates cybersecurity efforts across government agencies.
- CERT-In: Functions as the national agency for responding to cybersecurity incidents under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000.
- National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC): Detects cyber threats and shares information with government bodies and other stakeholders for action.
- NCIIPC: Protects India’s critical information infrastructure under Section 70A of the IT Act.
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Provides the legal framework for consumer protection in technology and e-commerce markets.
- ISEA project: MeitY runs the Information Security Education and Awareness programme to build cybersecurity capacity and promote cyber hygiene through public awareness portals.
What happened? The controversy surfaced after videos on social media showed people remotely disabling e-rickshaws using smartphone applications connected to Bluetooth-enabled battery management systems (BMS) in lithium-ion battery packs. The issue appeared to stem from the widespread use of aftermarket battery systems that lacked basic security measures, such as default passwords or authentication. This allowed anyone within Bluetooth range to connect through compatible applications and disable battery discharge, effectively cutting power to the vehicle.
In response, the Union government on July 3 directed Google and Apple to remove three applications, BAT-BMS, Epoch-i-ion, and Lossigy, from their respective app stores over security concerns and the potential for misuse.
However, when MediaNama checked following the government’s directive, all three applications remained available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Today, MediaNama identified several other applications offering similar Bluetooth BMS control functions on both platforms. Epoch-i-ion also remains available on the Google Play Store at the time of writing.
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