What is BAT-BMS app that is switching off e-rickshaws on the road?

Viral videos showing users remotely stopping e-rickshaws have raised concerns over the security of Bluetooth-enabled battery management systems used in some electric vehicles

Social media is flooding with viral videos showing random users remotely disabling battery rickshaws on roads using a Chinese smartphone app called BAT-BMS.

 

The app, developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Grenergy Technology, allows users to track and control Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries, sparking concerns over the cyber-safety of India's rapidly growing EV ecosystem.

 

The creators, across Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and X, are filming themselves switching off e-rickshaws and electric scooters, causing the vehicles to stop unexpectedly in the middle of the road.

 

While it remains unclear how widespread the vulnerability is or how many battery models are affected, the clips have raised questions about whether some battery systems lack adequate authentication safeguards.

 

 

Several netizens criticised the use of such remotely operated apps, saying it was unnecessarily troubling the e-rickshaw (Tirri) owners. “Dangerous and unethical,” one user posted on X, commenting on the plight of tirri drivers.

 

The attention has turned to a broader question of vehicle cybersecurity, with electric vehicles becoming increasingly software-driven and connected through Bluetooth-enabled components.

 

What is a Battery Management System?

 

A Battery Management System (BMS) is an electronic control unit that acts as the "brain" of a lithium-ion battery pack. It monitors the battery voltage, temperature, charging and discharging current to ensure safe and efficient operation.

 

Many BMS units allow users to control the battery through Bluetooth via a smartphone app instead of using a dedicated display. The BAT-BMS application is one such utility designed for compatible lithium batteries.

 

According to the company's website, the app enables users to view battery diagnostics—including charge level, voltage, temperature, cycle life and individual cell status—while also allowing certain battery functions to be managed remotely. The app connects directly to compatible batteries over Bluetooth and is intended for use by battery owners and authorised users.

 

Why do companies install BMS batteries in e-rickshaws?

 

According to Mukesh Gupta, founder of MaxVolt Energy, battery manufacturers install BMS units primarily to monitor battery health, usage patterns and charging behaviour, particularly for financed vehicles.

 

“It's crucial for the company to monitor batteries, including battery life, and where and how it's been used. A telematics system helps with this. This system can also be used to shut down the battery,” Gupta told The Lallantop.

 

But can everyone have remote access to the batteries? Gupta says only the company has complete access to the BMS. According to him, only the operator can monitor it. “This means they can access the battery temperature or voltage. But there's no way to shut it down. Only the company can do that.”

 

Many are then wondering how the Chinese app has been able to remotely control the batteries—a feature that is now being exploited for amusement and views.

 

According to The Print, many e-rickshaws and electric two-wheelers in India use Chinese Battery Management Systems (BMS) with minimal to no security, often with default open Bluetooth settings. Such systems allow smartphone users to manipulate and control vehicles without passwords or authentication, shutting them down.