Key Highlights

• Viral videos show people using the BAT BMS app to remotely disconnect e-rickshaw batteries, leaving drivers stranded.
• The trend has sparked concerns over road safety, cybersecurity, and the misuse of Bluetooth-enabled battery management systems.
• Delhi’s Transport Department and MeitY have begun examining the app and its security implications.
• The controversy highlights larger questions around connected EV security and the growing culture of viral online pranks.

A battery monitoring application meant to help electric vehicle owners has unexpectedly landed at the center of a nationwide controversy. The BAT BMS app has gone viral after videos surfaced online showing people remotely disconnecting the batteries of moving or parked e-rickshaws, leaving drivers confused and stranded. What started as another social media trend raises questions about road safety, cybersecurity, and misuse of technology.

Why is the BAT BMS app suddenly making headlines?

Instagram, Facebook, and X have been flooded with videos showing influencers and content creators approaching e-rickshaws. They then open the BAT BMS app on their smartphones, connecting to nearby lithium batteries over Bluetooth, and switching off the battery by activating the discharge function.

The trend is being shared under the name “Tirri Control,” with “tirri” being a commonly used nickname for e-rickshaws in parts of North India.

Most videos follow a similar pattern. The creator walks close to an e-rickshaw, connects to its battery management system, switches off the battery, and records the bewildered reaction of the driver. In some cases, the prank ends with the battery being switched back on after the recording. In others, the driver is left stranded without knowing what went wrong.

The videos have generated millions of views and mixed reactions. While some users argue that reckless e-rickshaw drivers deserve to be taught a lesson, others have questioned whether targeting people trying to earn a living can ever be justified, and rightly so.

Has a social media prank crossed the line?

E-rickshaws are often criticized for violating traffic rules, driving on the wrong side of roads, or creating congestion in several Indian cities. However, that criticism does not give anyone the authority to interfere with another person’s vehicle.

Unlike harmless internet pranks, this trend has real-world consequences. According to an NDTV report, an e-rickshaw dealer has already received around 40 to 50 vehicles with similar complaints. Since the battery has been disconnected through the app, many drivers reportedly cannot restart their vehicles unless someone reconnects the battery using the same application.

For drivers who depend entirely on daily earnings, even a few hours of downtime can mean losing an entire day’s income. More importantly, the people being targeted often have little understanding of why their vehicle suddenly stopped working.

What are the road safety concerns?

Beyond this, the biggest concern is public safety. E-rickshaws operate in crowded markets, school zones, residential neighborhoods, and busy city roads while carrying multiple passengers. If a battery suddenly disconnects while the vehicle is moving, the consequences could extend far beyond a viral video. An unexpected loss of power can leave a vehicle stranded in the middle of traffic, increasing the risk of collisions, traffic congestion, passenger injuries, and emergency situations.

The controversy has also exposed a larger cybersecurity concern. Connected systems that control critical vehicle functions are generally expected to include authentication and encryption. If unauthorized users can connect to nearby batteries simply because they are within Bluetooth range, the issue extends beyond e-rickshaws and becomes a question of connected vehicle security.

How does the BAT BMS app work?

According to the BAT BMS website, the app is designed as a Bluetooth-based battery monitoring system for lithium batteries used in electric rickshaws and electric autos. The application connects wirelessly to the Battery Management System, or BMS, installed inside compatible batteries. Once connected, users can monitor the battery’s State of Charge, voltage, charging and discharging current, cycle life, cell voltage, and temperature in real time.

Users simply need to install the application, enable Bluetooth 5.0 on their smartphone, stay within approximately 15 meters of the battery, and select the compatible BMS from the list of available devices. The website also says the app can monitor multiple batteries by allowing users to swipe between connected units. As per Google Play, the BAT BMS app is developed by China-based Shenzhen Grenergy Technology Co. Ltd.

Media reports have also identified another battery management application, Epoch Li-ion, as being used in similar incidents.

Does this affect only e-rickshaws?

Not necessarily. The viral videos currently involve compatible lithium battery systems used in e-rickshaws. However, whether similar techniques work on electric scooters, motorcycles, or passenger cars depends entirely on the battery management system installed by each manufacturer.

Most mainstream electric two-wheelers and passenger EVs use additional security measures, including encrypted communication, authentication protocols, and proprietary software that make unauthorized access significantly more difficult. Still, the incident serves as a reminder that cybersecurity is becoming just as important as battery technology in the connected mobility era.

What action is the government taking?

The controversy has already reached government offices.

Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Singh told NDTV that although no formal complaint has been received, the issue has been brought to his attention. He said the Transport Department has been directed to verify the authenticity of the BAT BMS app and examine whether the claims surrounding its misuse are genuine. Meanwhile, according to Firstpost, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has started examining the application’s functioning and security.

Officials are reportedly assessing whether nearby batteries can be accessed without authorization, whether user information is stored securely, if the application complies with Indian cybersecurity regulations, the extent of Chinese technology involved, and whether regulatory intervention is required.

Is this also a reflection of India’s viral content culture?

The BAT BMS app controversy is about more than a battery monitoring application. It reflects how digital tools designed for legitimate purposes can quickly become instruments for viral content. The race for views, likes, and engagement often encourages increasingly risky behavior, especially when the impact on others becomes secondary to creating shareable videos.

Unlike online trends that remain confined to social media, this one directly affects livelihoods, disrupts public roads, and raises genuine safety concerns. As India’s electric vehicle ecosystem becomes increasingly connected, the conversation can no longer focus only on batteries, charging infrastructure, and affordability. Digital security, responsible technology use, and stronger safeguards against misuse will also need to become part of the country’s EV roadmap.

The BAT BMS app controversy may have started as another viral trend, but it has opened a much larger debate about cybersecurity, public safety, and accountability in the age of connected mobility.