Delhi Government Probes Bluetooth App Exploit Remotely Shutting Down E-Rickshaws

The Delhi government has ordered an investigation after viral videos revealed that individuals are using a Bluetooth-enabled battery management smartphone app to remotely switch off e-rickshaws mid-road. The exploit has triggered severe safety concerns and financial distress for drivers operating on busy transit routes in Punjabi Bagh West, Peeragarhi, West Enclave, and Pitampura.

The issue came to light after clips circulated online showing people using a Chinese Bluetooth-enabled battery management app to disable the lithium-ion batteries powering the e-rickshaws. In some videos, users were seen walking up to moving or parked vehicles and shutting them down using their mobile phones.

The sudden shutdowns have caused safety anxieties among drivers and passengers on Delhi's fast-moving arterial roads. Because other vehicles often tailgate the e-rickshaws with minimal room to react, drivers fear that an unexpected halt could lead to fatal rear-end collisions.

Shree Ram, an e-rickshaw driver who plies his vehicle between the Punjabi Bagh West and Peeragarhi Metro stations, expressed constant fear that someone might ram into his vehicle from behind due to the sudden stalling.

Beyond safety risks, the exploit is causing financial strain and stress for local operators. Ankush Kumar, another driver who operates between West Enclave and Pitampura, shared that he initially spent Rs 500 suspecting a mechanical battery fault. He only later discovered that the shutdowns were being triggered remotely by the smartphone app.

Kumar added that when the vehicle suddenly stalls, passengers frequently refuse to pay their fares and instead switch to other rides, compounding the drivers' losses.

Following the viral demonstrations of the exploit and mounting complaints from drivers, the Delhi government launched an active probe into the claims to address the security loophole in the vehicles' battery systems.