The Indian government’s IT Ministry has taken a major step regarding the BAT-BMS app. The ministry has directed the relevant officials to remove it from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. A series of videos are currently going viral on social media, claiming that an app called BAT-BMS can be used to remotely stop or shut down e-rickshaws on the road. The videos also attempt to show that the app can lock or disable the vehicle’s battery.
These claims have raised concerns among e-rickshaw drivers and many electric vehicle users. They fear that if this becomes possible, the safety of their vehicles could be seriously compromised. Currently, the claims made in these viral videos have not been confirmed by any official agency, the relevant company, or a reliable technical source. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to consider these claims completely accurate until they are verified.
BAT-BMS is a mobile application developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Greenenergy Technology. It is used to view key battery information and monitor its settings and performance. The app is currently available on the Google Play Store. It was previously also available on the Apple App Store, but has now been removed. Shenzhen Greenenergy Technology is a battery manufacturing and related solutions company whose products are sold in many countries around the world.
App to Manage Smart Lithium Batteries with Bluetooth Support
This app has been developed to monitor and better manage smart lithium batteries with Bluetooth support. Users can view key battery information in real time, such as remaining charge, voltage, discharge current, voltage per cell, temperature, and the battery’s current status. Additionally, some advanced smart batteries also offer the option to turn charging on or off directly from the app, making battery control easier.
Some low-cost battery management systems (BMS) used in e-rickshaws have very weak security. Often, password protection is either absent or weak enough to be easily accessed. In such a situation, if the battery’s Bluetooth is turned on, anyone within 10 to 15 meters can attempt to connect to it using a mobile app. Once a connection is established, it may be possible to change or disable certain critical battery settings. For example, if the discharge function is turned off, power supply from the battery to the motor may be interrupted. This could result in the e-rickshaw suddenly stalling while in motion.