BAT-BMS App Blocked? Why MeitY Is Investigating Viral 'Tirri Control' Videos Stopping E-Rickshaws

For e-rickshaw drivers who depend on each trip to earn their daily income, an unexpected breakdown can mean losing an entire day's earnings.

Millions of people have watched viral videos in which pranksters appear to stop moving e-rickshaws (locally known as tirris) using nothing more than a smartphone. A few taps on an app, and the electric three-wheeler suddenly comes to a halt, leaving bewildered drivers trying to figure out what just happened.

What the videos looks like another social media prank, however, points to a much more serious problem. The videos have exposed a security loophole in some Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion battery systems fitted in e-rickshaws.

The issue has now caught the attention of the Delhi government which has asked its Transport Department to investigate both the legitimacy of a Chinese mobile application called BAT-BMS and the technological risks associated with it.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is examining the security risks posed by the Chinese mobile application BAT-BMS after viral videos showed pranksters remotely switching off moving e-rickshaws via Bluetooth. According to reports, the ministry has taken cognisance of the issue and is assessing whether the app should be blocked.

The move comes after a string of 'tirri control' viral videos on Instagram, YouTube and X showed people connecting to nearby e-rickshaws via Bluetooth before remotely switching off the battery's discharge function. The result is immediate: the vehicle loses power, leaving drivers stranded, often in the middle of busy roads.

Why Can a Smartphone Stop an E-Rickshaw?

The vulnerability is not caused by the mobile app alone it's the way some battery management systems (BMS) have been designed.

Many newer e-rickshaws use Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion batteries so owners can check battery health and performance through mobile apps such as BAT-BMS and Lossigy.

But not all battery manufacturers secure these systems properly. Some budget battery packs come with Bluetooth switched on by default and no password or authentication in place. That means anyone within Bluetooth range can connect to the battery using a compatible app and access certain controls that were never meant to be publicly available.

What Is BAT-BMS?

BAT-BMS is a mobile application developed by Chinese battery technology company Shenzhen Grenergy Technology. According to its listing on the Google Play Store, the app is designed to help users monitor compatible Bluetooth-enabled lithium-ion battery packs wirelessly.

Among other things, it allows users to:

Check the battery's state of charge (SOC)
Monitor voltage, current and temperature
View battery cycle life and cell health
Track charging and discharging history
Connect through Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE)
Operate within a range of around 15 metres
Monitor multiple batteries, although only one phone can control a battery at a time

On its own, BAT-BMS is simply a battery monitoring tool. The real problem begins when battery manufacturers leave Bluetooth access completely unprotected.

How Does the 'Kill Switch' Work?

BAT-BMS app allows users to wirelessly connect to compatible Bluetooth-enabled lithium batteries within a 10-15 metre range.

Once connected to a vulnerable battery through Bluetooth, a nearby user can access several battery controls using BAT-BMS or another compatible app.

One of those controls is the "Discharge Switch."

Turning it off immediately cuts power from the battery, causing the e-rickshaw to stop. Since the battery has been electronically disabled, simply turning the ignition key won't restart the vehicle.

Instead, the discharge function has to be turned back on through the app before the e-rickshaw can move again.

In other words, someone standing just a few metres away can temporarily disable an unsecured e-rickshaw without ever touching it.

The app is still available on the Google Play Store, although reports suggest it has been removed from Apple's App Store. It currently has low user ratings, with several reviews citing Bluetooth connectivity and pairing issues.