A spate of EV explosions in India has raised safety concerns about the technology. However, it is too early to write off EVs on the evidence of these incidents. Only detailed investigations and analyses will reveal whether the battery explosions in Hyderabad and other parts of the country occurred due to extreme weather conditions, battery mismanagement, or other reasons.
These incidents have led to widespread criticism that automotive companies are rushing the manufacturing of EVs to capture a massive share of the growing market, thereby compromising human safety. But if we look at the investments made by leading EV manufacturing companies in India, it is evident that they have been made considering the bright future of EVs in the country. Given the heavy capital investment, these companies are unlikely to make profits in the near future.
Professor Dhamodaran Santhanagopalan, Amritha Vishwa Vidyapeetham, is the co-author of this article.
