As EVs catch fire, lithium ion batteries remain at the heart of the problem

If not managed properly, the lithium ion cells used in electric vehicles can become overheated and cause fires

Over the past week or so, images of electric two-wheelers going up in flames have sparked concern over the safety of these vehicles. And days after an Ola Electric scooter caught fire and caused a social media uproar about the growth-at-all-costs nature of unicorn companies, two-wheelers of two more electric vehicle (EV) startups — Okinawa and Pure — suffered the same fate.

Why are such incidents happening? Industry experts believe this is a technology challenge that automakers face globally, rather than just in India, and that the lithium ion cells used in EVs are at the heart of the problem.