MeitY tells Android, Apple App Store to remove e-rickshaw disabling apps

The Union government has moved to contain an e-rickshaw security scare, directing Google Play on Android and the Apple App Store to take down mobile applications that could be used to switch off electric rickshaws mid-journey. On 3 July 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said it had ordered the removal after viral videos showed e-rickshaws in Delhi being halted when nearby smartphones connected to them over Bluetooth. Officials confirmed two such apps had already been pulled, with the action aimed at protecting both passenger safety and drivers' daily earnings.

The trigger was a run of short clips on social media over recent days, in which individuals appeared to pair with a moving e-rickshaw's battery and cut its power, leaving drivers stranded. E-rickshaws are a backbone of last-mile transport across Indian cities, and much of the low-cost fleet runs on imported parts. The episode has exposed how thinly some of these vehicles are protected at the software level, even as India pushes deeper into electric mobility.

Which apps have been flagged

Reports name three applications, BAT-BMS, Lossigy and Epoch-i-ion. One of them, BAT-BMS, was developed by China's Shenzhen Grenergy Technology as a companion app for Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion batteries. These are Battery Management System (BMS) tools that let owners and technicians monitor voltage, current, temperature and battery health, and also toggle the battery's discharge on or off. That control is meant for servicing, but it is what makes misuse possible.

The flaw is narrower than the clips suggest. It applies only to e-rickshaws with Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion batteries whose BMS has no password or still runs on factory-default credentials. In those cases, anyone within Bluetooth range, typically around 10 to 15 metres, can connect and cut power. Vehicles on older lead-acid batteries and branded EVs with encrypted systems are not exposed.

S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, said the apps had come to the government's notice a day earlier and had since been taken down. He added that app stores must exercise due care, and that the Centre would take up the matter so that potentially damaging apps do not surface. The Delhi Transport Department has begun its own investigation.

How can a phone switch off a moving e-rickshaw

On many budget e-rickshaws, the BMS connects to a phone over Bluetooth without any password. A stranger nearby with the matching app can pair with the battery and toggle the discharge off, stalling the vehicle at once. Because the battery is disabled, the ignition key will not restart it until the setting is restored.

The fix comes down to authentication. MeitY has signalled that more takedowns could follow if further apps are flagged, and that platforms will be pushed to tighten vetting. As India's EV fleet grows, the software inside the battery will need the same scrutiny as the hardware on the road.