BAT-BMS App: Videos are going viral on social media showing people shutting down moving electric rickshaws using an app. What technology is behind this?

BAT-BMS App: Over the past couple of days, videos have been circulating on social media showing electric rickshaws being shut down while in motion using an app. In these videos, individuals—seated in cars or on bikes—tap the app to turn off the electric rickshaw. This has sparked a debate regarding road safety and raised questions about how an app can shut down a rickshaw while it is being driven. Today, we explain the technical aspect of how an app is used to cut off power to the electric rickshaw's battery.

How does the BAT-BMS App work?

BAT-BMS is a battery management app developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Grenergy Technology. It is designed to monitor Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries. The app displays various data points such as battery charge level, voltage, current, temperature, cycle count, and the health of individual cells. It connects via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and operates within a range of approximately 15 meters. It was primarily created for solar, marine, and off-grid battery systems.

How are e-rickshaws being shut down using this app?

Many e-rickshaws on Indian roads use Chinese-made BMS batteries that come with Bluetooth connectivity. These batteries are often not properly configured, and Bluetooth connectivity is not disabled by default. Consequently, they are typically used with unsecured Bluetooth connections. This means anyone within range can connect to the battery via Bluetooth and toggle it on or off. Once connected to the phone, the battery output can be cut off via the app; this stops the e-rickshaw's motor, causing the vehicle to come to a halt in the middle of the road.

Can any rickshaw be shut down?

This app does not work on every e-rickshaw. It can only connect to batteries equipped with a compatible Bluetooth system where the connectivity option is enabled. The app is incompatible with lead-acid batteries; consequently, e-rickshaws using lead-acid batteries cannot be started or shut down using this method.