What's BAT-BMS? The bluetooth app that's stopping e-rickshaws or 'tirris' mid-ride across Delhi

A strange new trend has been quietly wrecking the e-rickshaw drivers in Delhi, and most of them don't even know why it's happening to them. Across the capital, e-rickshaw drivers have been finding their vehicles suddenly dying in the middle of traffic, refusing to restart, with no visible fault, no warning light, and no mechanical explanation. The cause, it turns out, isn't a wiring fault or a drained battery. It's a smartphone app called BAT-BMS, and it's being used by pranksters to remotely shut down "tirris", the local nickname for battery-powered e-rickshaws, just for laughs, likes, and viral content.

Amid reports that e-rickshaws could be remotely shut down through the Chinese smartphone application BAT-BMS, the government said on Friday that two such apps had come to its notice and have since been removed from app stores.

IT Secretary S Krishnan asserted that app stores must exercise due diligence, and said the government would take up the matter with them to ensure that potentially harmful apps are not made available.


Confirming that action has been taken in the matter, Krishnan said, "That is right...there are a couple of apps, which came to our notice yesterday and both of them have been taken down from the app stores."

What Exactly Is BAT-BMS App?

BAT-BMS is a mobile application originally meant to help owners monitor and manage their e-rickshaw's Battery Management System (BMS), the electronic unit that controls how a lithium battery charges, discharges, and powers the vehicle's motor. In theory, it's a legitimate maintenance tool.

In practice, it's turned into a weapon for mischief. That's because a large number of cheap, Chinese-made battery packs fitted onto e-rickshaws come with Bluetooth connectivity built in, but without any password, PIN, or authentication layer protecting that connection. This means literally anyone standing close enough with the app open can pair with a stranger's e-rickshaw battery, no permission required.

Once connected, the app allows access to the battery's control settings, including the master "discharge" switch. Flip that switch, and the rickshaw's motor cuts out instantly, even if it's moving through traffic at the time.

How Far BAT-BMS App Can It Reach?

The unsettling part is the range. Bluetooth pairing on these unsecured units typically works within 10 to 15 metres, meaning a person on a footpath, in a nearby vehicle, or even riding past on a bike can hijack a driver's power supply without ever touching the rickshaw itself. The driver has no idea what hit them — the dashboard simply goes dark, and the vehicle refuses to move.

Well-known, branded battery systems that come with proper encryption and factory-level security are understood to be immune to this kind of interference. It's specifically the low-cost, aftermarket battery packs — now extremely common across Delhi's electric fleet — that are exposed.

A "Prank" With Real Victims

What began as an online stunt for shock value and shares has left real people out of pocket. Several social media creators have started calling out the trend after coming face to face with its human cost.

Content creator Amaan Siddiqui recently described stumbling upon a driver trying to tow his own dead rickshaw with another vehicle. Suspecting the BAT-BMS trend was behind it, Siddiqui says he pulled up, connected to the rickshaw using the same app, and reversed the discharge setting, instantly bringing the vehicle back to life in front of the stunned driver.

According to Siddiqui, the driver broke down on realising what had happened. The rickshaw, which he had taken on rent for the day, had been sitting dead at the same spot since morning, costing him an estimated ₹400–₹500 in lost income, money many drivers depend on to get through the day.

Authorities Step In

The scale of the disruption hasn't gone unnoticed by officials. The Delhi Transport Department has launched an investigation into BAT-BMS along with a similar application called Epoch Li-ion, following a spike in complaints and viral videos linked to the trend.

Transport Minister Pankaj Singh and senior department officials are reportedly examining just how serious the security loophole is, and whether some form of restriction or regulation needs to be placed on these unsecured Battery Management System apps to protect commuters and drivers alike.

(Inputs from ANI)