Government Removes BAT-BMS, Epoch Li-ion Apps After Viral E-Rickshaw Shutdown Videos

New Delhi: The Central Government on Friday has taken action against a Chinese app which were linked to the e-rickshaw shutdown video. Following the government's order, the BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion apps were removed from the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.

What is the case?

BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion were used to remotely stop e-rickshaws. Videos of the app went viral on social media, showing the difficulties faced by drivers. The government has decided to remove the app due to safety concerns and concerns about misuse. The matter is currently under investigation and monitoring. 

On Friday, MeitY pulled off both BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion apps from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

What did the Delhi minister say?

After videos of e-rickshaws being stopped using a Chinese mobile application surfaced on social media, Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh said the government was looking into the matter.

Meanwhile, e-rickshaw driver Naseem said, "I drive my e-rickshaw between Lal Kuan, Farash Khana, Jama Masjid, and the Red Fort. I covered my security number plate with black plastic because my vehicle suddenly broke down yesterday, so I put it on this morning." 

The driver further said, "The whole story is that I was out picking up passengers, the car suddenly stopped, and I had to push it out. People told me to cover it from behind because if someone notes the number, they can turn it off. They're using an app on their phones to turn it off while the car is actively on the road."

What is BAT-BMS app?

The app being used to shut down e-rickshaws is called BAT-BMS. It was developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Greenergy Technology. It's a battery management system (BMS) monitoring app designed to monitor lithium batteries with Bluetooth support.

The app displays battery information such as charging status, voltage, current, temperature, battery health, charging cycles, and the status of each cell. It also allows you to control charging and discharging for compatible batteries.