If you’re looking for a subtle, non-artistic illustration of how one person’s misery can become another person’s amusement, look no further than what unfolded on Indian X (formerly Twitter) and other social media platforms at large over the past few days.
E-rickshaws, often viewed as cheap and, although not solely responsible for traffic jams, frequently blamed for them, found themselves at the centre of a strange spectacle. A random individual using some app was remotely switching off running e-rickshaws, leaving drivers stranded in the middle of their journeys.
The videos that followed became a source of chaotic amusement online. Many found the scenes hilarious, sharing memes and jokes while paying little attention to what the e-rickshaw drivers themselves might have been going through.
What appeared as harmless fun for viewers was, for those drivers, confusion, disruption and, potentially, a loss of income.
The issue stemmed from three immediate gaps: a Bluetooth-enabled Battery Management System (BMS) that allowed remote control functions and the “BAT-BMS” mobile utility application, developed by Shenzhen Grenergy Technology Co., Ltd., a China-based company, that exposed these controls without adequate authentication.
However, the episode also revealed a deeper problem. Almost none of the e-rickshaw drivers were aware of the password protection system embedded within the BMS. Several drivers claimed that sellers had never informed them about these features, pointing both to a lack of disclosure at the point of sale and a wider lack of awareness among drivers about the technology powering their vehicles.
one of the major e-rickshaw battery manufacturers said that “earlier systems did not have any password protection and were open to connect with.” However, the manufacturer added that “updated versions now come with password protection features.”
“Drivers generally do not have much use for the BMS and mostly need it to check the battery percentage. Therefore, we do not usually share the IDs and passwords with them,” the dealer added.
