EV fire: Gadkari urges firms to take precautions

New Delhi: Amid incidents of electric two-wheelers catching fire, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday urged companies to take advance action to recall all defective vehicles, even as he said there is some problem with EV batteries when the temperature rises in the months of March, April and May.

The Road Transport and Highways Minister also acknowledged that the country’s EV industry has “just started” and emphasised that the government does not want to put up a hurdle. “But safety is the highest priority for the government and there can be no compromise with human lives,” Gadkari said at the Raisina Dialogue here.

His comments assume significance against the backdrop of multiple incidents of Electric Vehicles (EVs) catching fire and resulting in deaths and severe injuries to people. During an interactive session, Gadkari reiterated that companies may take advance action to recall all defective batches of vehicles immediately.

“In March-April-May, the temperature rises, then there is some problem with the battery (of EVs). I feel that it (electric two-wheelers catching fire) is a problem of (high) temperature,” he said.

The road transport and highways minister noted that the government wants to make EVs popular. “We understand that the EV industry has just started. We don’t want to put up a hurdle. But safety is the highest priority for the government and there can be no compromise with human lives,” Gadkari asserted.

Tesla should make cars in India The minister said if the US-based Tesla is ready to manufacture its electric vehicles in India then there is ‘no problem’ but the company must not import cars from China. Gadkari further said India is a large market and there is a huge potential for all electric vehicles.

“If Elon Musk (Tesla CEO) is ready to manufacture in India then there is no problem ... Come to India, start manufacturing, India is a large market they can export from India,” he said. The road transport and highways minister said his request to Musk is to come and manufacture in India.

“But if he wants to manufacture in China and sell in India, then it cannot be a good proposition for India,” Gadkari said. Last year, the heavy industries ministry had also asked Tesla to first start manufacturing its iconic electric vehicles in India before any tax concessions can be considered. (PTI)