App On, E-Rickshaw Off: Bizarre Bluetooth Prank Sparks Safety Concerns in Delhi
Viral videos show influencers remotely shutting down e-rickshaws using battery management apps, leaving drivers stranded and prompting Delhi government intervention.
New Delhi: A bizarre prank has taken social media by storm, raising serious safety and security concerns among e-rickshaw drivers in the national capital. Viral videos show people using a smartphone application to remotely shut down e-rickshaws locally known as “tirris” through a Bluetooth connection, leaving drivers bewildered and stranded.
Influencers and content creators have been recording themselves approaching e-rickshaws and electric scooters, connecting to the battery management system via a mobile app, and activating a discharge switch that instantly powers down the vehicle. The drivers are left helpless, unable to restart their vehicles without the app’s intervention.
📱 How the Prank Works
The prank exploits a vulnerability in certain Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries used in e-rickshaws. By connecting a smartphone to the battery’s management system, users can remotely control the power output, effectively switching off the vehicle while it is stationary or even in motion.
The battery management applications are primarily designed to monitor battery health, voltage, temperature, and current in real time. However, the control functions can be misused on systems that lack robust authentication.
According to a senior Delhi government official:
“There is no password or authentication. As a result, cutting the power output and bringing the vehicle to a sudden halt becomes easy.”
🛑 NDTV Reality Check: Vulnerability Confirmed
An NDTV investigation found that the concern may not be limited to a single application.
In a demonstration, NDTV tested one battery management application on a compatible e-rickshaw. The app connected to the battery without difficulty. When the switch-off option was tapped, the vehicle powered down immediately. The display went blank, and the driver was unable to restart the e-rickshaw until the app was used to switch it back on.
Earlier, another similar app had also been used to perform this prank. However, that app now appears to require a password before allowing users to access the switch-off function.
“As soon as one app is secured, another one appears,” said Insaaf Khan, an e-rickshaw dealer.
🚨 Growing Complaints, Mounting Frustration
Dealers and drivers report a sharp rise in complaints over the past few days.
Khan, who runs a workshop, said around 40 to 50 e-rickshaws had already come to him with similar issues.
“We’ve been receiving these complaints for the last four days. Earlier, we managed to fix them using one company’s app after entering the password, but now we’re seeing cases linked to a new app as well. The problem has become much bigger. Battery companies will have to work seriously on this issue because it’s creating a lot of trouble for drivers.”
For drivers like Raushan Lal, whose e-rickshaw was part of NDTV’s ground report, the prank is no joke.
“We had to push the e-rickshaw all the way here. We are poor people; this is our only source of livelihood. If our e-rickshaw stops working like this, how are we supposed to earn a living?”
Lal added that the uncertainty was his biggest concern:
“Our biggest worry is that our work could come to a halt at any moment. If this happens while a passenger is on board, how will we continue earning our daily income?”
He was fortunate that no passengers were inside when the vehicle stopped:
“Thankfully, there were no passengers inside at the time. Otherwise, they might have refused to pay the fare after the vehicle broke down.”
🏛️ Delhi Government Responds
The issue has reached the Delhi government. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh told NDTV that while no formal written complaint has been received, people have raised the issue with him. He said the Transport Department has been directed to verify the authenticity of the claims and examine the applications in question.
“I am yet to get written complaint but people flagged me this issue in my office. So I have asked to get the correct information on the issue,” Singh said.
A senior Delhi government official confirmed that preliminary assessment suggests the application can wirelessly connect to compatible Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries within a limited range.
🔒 Cybersecurity Experts Call for EV Security Standards
Cybersecurity expert and advocate Saakshar Duggal said the incident underlines the need for stronger safeguards as India’s EV ecosystem expands.
“It is pivotal for the EV sector to have certain guidelines. If not proper regulation as such, there should at least be strict guidelines for EV manufacturers and dealers so that these lacunas can be taken care of.”
📊 Impact Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Nature of Prank | Remote shutdown of e-rickshaws via Bluetooth-connected battery management apps |
| Affected Vehicles | E-rickshaws (“tirris”) and electric scooters with compatible lithium batteries |
| Method | Connecting smartphone to battery via Bluetooth, activating discharge switch |
| Driver Impact | Stranded vehicles, loss of daily earnings, inability to restart without app |
| Complaints Received | 40-50 vehicles reported at one Delhi workshop alone |
| Government Response | Transport Department directed to investigate and verify claims |
| Cybersecurity Concern | Lack of authentication and password protection in some battery systems |
| Industry Impact | Raises questions about EV security standards and manufacturer accountability |
⚠️ The Bigger Question for India’s EV Push
Battery management applications are widely used to monitor battery health, charging status, voltage, and temperature. Some systems allow authorized users to remotely control certain battery functions.
While app developers may introduce security updates, the NDTV reality check suggests the concern does not stop at one application. As India accelerates its transition to electric vehicles, the incident raises urgent questions about:
- Security standards for connected battery systems
- Manufacturer accountability in ensuring robust authentication
- Regulatory oversight of vehicle software vulnerabilities
- Consumer protection for drivers whose livelihoods depend on these vehicles
For thousands of e-rickshaw drivers across Delhi, the prank is a stark reminder that technology, when misused, can have real-world consequences on their daily bread and butter.
Sources: NDTV, Delhi Transport Department, Forward Seamen’s Union of India (for context), cybersecurity experts interviewed by NDTV
Note: The specific application names have been omitted from this article to prevent misuse, in line with security best practices. The investigation referenced in this report was conducted by NDTV.