E-rickshaw drivers in Delhi are facing a strange problem these days. While moving on the road, e-rickshaws suddenly stop and do not start again. Investigation has revealed that the cause is not any mechanical fault or battery discharge, but a smartphone app named ‘BAT-BMS’. Mischievous elements and people creating viral content on social media are stopping e-rickshaws while sitting at a distance with the help of this app. However, today i.e. on July 3, the Ministry of Information Technology said that two mobile applications including ‘BAT-BMS’ have been removed from the app stores. The action was confirmed by ministry secretary S Krishnan during the CII Cyber Security Summit. Question 1: What exactly is the BAT-BMS app going viral on social media? Answer: ‘BAT-BMS’ is real time battery management tool. It has been developed by the Chinese company ‘Shenzhen Greenergy Technology’. The main function of this app is to monitor Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries. This app displays important information like battery charge level, voltage, temperature and cell health. You can consider it as a kind of digital dashboard of your battery. Question 2: How does this app work and how are people able to stop moving e-rickshaws through it? Answer: This is not very high-tech hacking, but rather taking advantage of a simple security lapse. This app has a ‘remote cut-off’ feature, with the help of which the discharge of the battery (power supply) can be turned on or off. When a person comes within 10 to 15 meters of the e-rickshaw (Bluetooth range) and connects to the battery of the vehicle through this app, it stops the discharge function. Due to this, the power to the motor is immediately cut off and the e-rickshaw stops. Question 3: Can all the e-rickshaws or electric vehicles in the country be stopped through this app? Answer: No. Contrary to fears being spread on social media, not all e-rickshaws are at risk. This app can only affect vehicles that meet certain conditions. Question 3: Which e-rickshaws are completely safe from the effects of this app? Answer: A large number of e-rickshaws in India still run on old lead-acid batteries. These batteries do not have any Bluetooth or digital management system, so they are completely safe from this app. Additionally, Bluetooth systems for lithium batteries that have a strong password set by the manufacturer or dealer also cannot be accessed through this app. Question 4: For what purpose did the Chinese company create this app? Was this for e-rickshaw? Answer: No, the company did not create this app to control e-rickshaw. Its main purpose was to monitor the health of lithium batteries installed in solar energy devices and batteries of boats or ships. The discharge on/off feature of this app was provided for safety and maintenance, so that the battery owner can cut the power if needed. But in India it started being used to remotely switch off the batteries of e-rickshaw. Question 5: What effect is this having on e-rickshaw drivers and road safety? Answer: In the viral video, people are seen stopping e-rickshaws as ‘revenge’ for bad driving or just for fun, but in reality it has become a problem for the drivers. Due to sudden stop of e-rickshaw in the middle of traffic, there is a risk of collision with vehicles coming from behind. Moreover, e-rickshaw drivers’ time is wasted and their earnings are affected. Question 6: Who is actually responsible for this major security lapse? Answer: Local battery assemblers, dealers and some low-cost lithium battery makers are mainly responsible for this. In the cheap e-rickshaw parts market in India, many such lithium batteries are being sold whose Bluetooth battery management system is left unlocked without any password or default password. It is just like if someone has left the main door of his house open and anyone can come inside. Question 7: What is the solution to fix this security flaw? Answer: The solution is very simple and easy. Dealers and manufacturers of vehicles must ensure that they set a strong and unique password in the battery management system before selling the vehicle to customers. If the password remains set, no outsider will be able to connect to the app despite being in Bluetooth range. Additionally, drivers who already have such batteries can visit the dealer to get a password lock installed in the BMS settings of their batteries. Question 8: Is any action being taken by the administration or government in this matter? Answer: Yes, S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has announced that two suspicious applications have been removed from app stores following concerns about shutting down e-rickshaws remotely. These include the controversial ‘BAT-BMS’ app. Earlier, after increasing complaints and videos going viral on social media, Delhi Transport Department had started investigation against ‘BAT-BMS’ as well as another application working in a similar manner, ‘Epoch Li-ion’. Question 9: What further steps can the Transport Department take to stop this problem? Answer: Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh and senior officials of the department are seriously reviewing this technical flaw and security threat. The government is considering what kind of restrictions or rules can be imposed on these unsafe battery management system apps to prevent unauthorized use for the safety of commuters and drivers. Knowledge Part: Know what is BMS? The full name of BMS is Battery Management System. This is the ‘brain’ of the lithium battery. Its job is to protect the battery from overcharging, overheating and short circuit. Bluetooth BMS is provided in modern batteries so that the driver can know how much the battery is charged and what is its temperature through a smartphone app. Important tips for e-rickshaw drivers:
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Mobile app that stops e-rickshaw mid-road banned: Chinese company’s app was being misused, connected through Bluetooth
