New Delhi: The Government of India has directed tech giants Google and Apple to remove approximately seven applications, including BAT BMS and SMART BMS, from their respective app stores. This move comes amid allegations that these applications are being misused to remotely shut down the batteries of electric rickshaws and other battery powered vehicles.
According to sources, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued the takedown notice targeting software like BAT BMS, SMART BMS, and LOSSIGY. These mobile applications connect directly to a vehicle Battery Management System, which traditionally controls battery health, charging status, and overall safety.
Reports indicate that malicious elements were exploiting these tools to switch off vehicle batteries remotely. This unauthorised access could cause an electric rickshaw to halt abruptly in the middle of a journey, creating severe physical safety hazards for both drivers and passengers. The government views this remote tampering as a significant public safety threat.
Providing specific technical details, sources noted that BAT BMS is a mobile application developed by Shenzhen Greenergy Technology. It uses Bluetooth to pair with smart lithium batteries, feeding users live data regarding voltage and charging levels. Crucially, it also features a toggle to turn the battery power on or off, a function that has now become a major vulnerability.
Drawing a loose parallel to the recent Israel pager attacks where compromised devices were activated from afar, experts highlight the danger of pre tampered hardware. If an attacker interferes with a Battery Management System beforehand, inserting hardware that allows remote control, it transforms a standard vehicle component into a serious security liability. Authorities have made it clear that any application found facilitating such misuse will be strictly blocked.
As of now, neither Google nor Apple has released an official statement detailing when these seven apps will be officially taken down. In the meantime, the government strongly advises electric vehicle owners to delete these applications immediately if they are currently installed on their smartphones.
This regulatory action is considered a vital step towards securing the rapidly growing electric mobility sector in India. For any battery related technical issues, vehicle owners are urged to rely exclusively on authorised company service centres or qualified mechanics rather than using unverified third party software.