This is the first EV fire incident of Okinawa since the company has recalled its electric scooters due to battery related issues
Representational image. Image courtesy: Ola Electric
An electric scooter caught fire in Hosur, an industrial hub in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, on Saturday causing panic in the area. The owner, a supervisor at a private firm in Bengaluru, however had a providential escape.
This is the first EV fire incident of Okinawa since the company has recalled its electric scooters due to battery related issues.
Hosur resident Satish Kumar noticed his scooter suddenly catching fire from under the seat and jumped to safety. As the vehicle went up in flames, passersby rushed to his help in dousing the blaze. But the vehicle was gutted, police said.
Satish had bought the electric two-wheeler last year.
Okinawa scooters
A few days ago Okinawa recalled 3,215 Praise Pro scooters to address any battery-related issues. The batteries were to be inspected for loose connectors or other damage and serviced for free at any of the Okinawa licenced dealerships in India.
The electric 2W maker is working closely with the dealer partners to ensure that the repair experience is as per the convenience of its customers, for which the vehicle owners will be contacted individually.
Electric scooters catch fire
Electric scooters suddenly catching fire has become a cause for concern of late.
In a string of such incidents recently, a father and his daughter died due to suffocation in Vellore district in March due to the smoke caused by the explosion of the electric bike while being charged.
An electric two-wheeler caught fire in Manapparai in Tiruchirappalli district, later.
Earlier this month, a man died when the detachable battery of the electric scooter kept for charging exploded in his house in Telangana.
In Tamil Nadu’s Ambur this month, a frustrated man poured petrol on his e-scooter and set it afire as the manufacturers did not send help on time when he complained that the vehicle stopped working after 50 km. The video of the man torching his own bike went viral on social media.
Last week, electric scooter maker PURE EV, expressing deep regret over the alleged explosion of a battery of an electric scooter leading to the death of an 80-year-old man in Telangana’s Nizamabad, announced that it has decided to recall 2,000 vehicles in Nizamabad and Chennai.
Concerned over the rise in incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said the companies found negligent will be penalised and a recall of all defective vehicles will be ordered after receiving the report of an expert panel that has been formed to inquire into the matter.
With input from agencies
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