Following a fire incident involving an electric bus from the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) fleet last year, concerns have emerged regarding passenger safety. Previous fire incidents were reported in CNG-powered buses. The Delhi Integrated Multimodal Transit System (DIMTS), overseeing e-bus operations, has mandated an audit for 300 e-buses. The bus operators are required to conduct and submit the audit report.
In the capital, 1650 e-buses are operational, with 1350 under DTC and 300 managed by DIMTS. Recently, on May 19, an e-bus caught fire in Hauz Khas after covering only 14,000 kilometers. Passengers were safely evacuated, but the bus was completely destroyed. The safety of e-buses, introduced last year to reduce pollution, is now being questioned. With rising temperatures in Delhi, officials aim to ensure passenger safety and bus quality through thorough audits.
Over 20 standards, including lithium battery and wiring tests, will be conducted. The audit findings will be compared with previous reports to determine operational adjustments. An investigation into the May 19 incident revealed that the fire originated near the bus motor, not the batteries. Insulators near the motor likely over heated, causing the fire.