Amid rise in EV fire incidents, Delhi HC makes insurance mandatory for Two-Wheeler EVs

New Delhi, 5 May 2022: The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the State and Central government to ensure mandatory insurance of two-wheeler electric vehicles amid the rise in EV fire incidents in recent times.

It came as a response to a PIL filed by advocate R. K. Kapoor, “The demand for Electric Vehicles (EVS) is slowly gathering pace in India. Apart from being a green alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles, they can also be cheaper to run in the long term. As the EV market is still developing in India, prospective buyers may have concerns about where they can find suitable Electric Vehicle Insurance,” stated the PIL.

The plea also aimed to ensure that vehicle makers installed reliable and long-lasting batteries in order to reduce overheating and fire mishaps, apart from insurance coverage. It has also requested that safety measures be implemented, such as the wearing of helmets regardless of the vehicle’s capacity.

The High Court’s Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla issued the notice and adjourned the matter for October 20, awaiting a response from the local government and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.