Read the smoke signals

E-vehicle fires call for comprehensive policy action

India’s policy thrust to encourage the uptake of green e-vehicles may be affected by safety concerns after several recent incidents in which e-scooters have caught fire, causing panic and loss of life. While the government has ordered an enquiry, it cannot be content to simply identify and patch lacunae in technology.

The authorities must review and reorder the road-safety ecosystem. As the number of e-vehicles in service rises, the fire brigade and the police will need to be retrained, and, maybe, issued new equipment. In addition, if the policy is not to be derailed by consumer hesitancy, the government must