'Can kill people': Indians are using a Chinese app to shut down e-rickshaws in the middle of the roads, netizens point out 'danger' | - The Times of India
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'Can kill people': Indians are using a Chinese app to shut down e-rickshaws in the middle of the roads, netizens point out 'danger'
TOI Trending Desk / etimes.in / Jul 02, 2026, 14:00 IST
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Sometimes, social media trends can cross the boundary into the real world and pose some serious danger to human lives. In a trend currently taking over the Indian social media, teenagers and youngsters are using a Chinese app to stop e-rickshaws from working. Videos going viral online show them suddenly stopping the vehicles popularly known as 'tirris', sometimes in the middle of the roads, leaving the driver shocked and all in a situation of danger or death.As per reports, they are using a Chinese smartphone app called BAT-BMS, connecting it to the e-rickshaw or electric scooter via Bluetooth and flipping the discharge switch, leaving the vehicle stranded."Bohot pareshan kiya hai tirri walon ne, ab inki rail banegi (the-erickshaw drivers have caused enough trouble, now they'll suffer)" reads the text on a viral reel posted with the caption, "Time for revenge."Social media has been treating the entire trend as a lesson to the e-rickshaw drivers who are known for driving recklessly at times and not caring for the traffic. As a supposed "karma" for bad driving and behaviour.Some videos even capture, the driver pleading with the person against the prank. In one of the clips, a driver talks about having paid about Rs 100-200 to strangers to have his e-rickshaw restarted.
What is BAT-BMS?
Developed in the Shenzhen province of China by Shenzhen Grenergy Technology, BAT-BMS is a legitimate tool for battery management.
It allows users to wirelessly connect to compatible Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries within a 10-15 metre range. As per the official website, it allows real-time monitoring of battery status, including voltage, temperature, and current.The app enables precise control and optimisation of battery performance and also allows users to remotely control the batteries, a feature that is now being exploited in India. How? Because many budget e-rickshaws and electric scooters in India use Chinese-manufactured Battery Management Systems (BMS) with minimal to no security, often with default open Bluetooth settings. These systems allow nearby smartphone users to connect without passwords or authentication, instantly cutting the power output and bringing the vehicle to a sudden halt. While the app has reportedly been taken off the iOS App Store, it still remains available on the Google Play Store.Social media reactions
The videos of the trend have been going viral on numerous social media platforms including Instagram, YouTube, Reddit and X. As they gain traction, people have been warning about their 'danger' online, pointing out that the trend could lead to serious accidents or traffic jams."Masti for some impacting rozi roti of others," wrote a user online."Imagine if it stops in the middle of a road..it can kill people...stop this s**t," added another.Many even warned that e-rickshaws are the only source of income for drivers and possibly the only vehicle they have. Thus, people should not play with their livelihood. "Whatever if even an e-rickshaw is wrong or not, no one should be allowed to stop them in the middle. They are also human and that e rickshaw is their only source of earning," one wrote.Others highlighted that a prank now, could soon turn into a public safety issue quickly. "Mazak ho rha abhi toh...But kuch time baad issue hone lagega," another commented.
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