Govt mulls penalising companies for EV fire as voluntary recall begins

Nearly 7,000 e-two-wheelers taken off the roads; show-cause notice to companies sent based on findings of a report by a DRDO laboratory

Months after a spate of fires in two-wheelers put a dent in India's EV overdrive, the central government will soon take a call on whether or not to take penal action against manufacturers of faulty electric vehicles.

In April, Union Minister for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari, warned EV makers of strict action if they are found negligent. “If any company is found negligent in their processes, a heavy penalty will be imposed and a recall of all defective vehicles will also be ordered,” he had tweeted.

"We haven’t yet decided what penal action will be taken against the companies at