BatteryPool unveiled a new battery‑control design that restricts control to charging stations, eliminating the risk of mid‑ride shutdowns caused by unauthorized Bluetooth access. The move addresses recent security incidents affecting e‑rickshaw drivers across India.

Key Takeaways

  • BatteryPool’s architecture allows control only at the charging point, not while the vehicle is in motion.
  • Encrypted firmware and CAN‑bus handshake block any Bluetooth‑based remote attacks.
  • India‑made BMS hardware and authorized charging infrastructure boost battery health and overall safety.

Indian deep‑tech‑fintech startup BatteryPool has proactively redesigned its battery‑control system for e‑rickshaws, ensuring that batteries can be managed solely at charging stations and never during a ride. This breakthrough comes in response to a spate of incidents where thieves used unauthorized Bluetooth connections to cut power to e‑rickshaw batteries, stranding drivers and passengers and costing operators an estimated ₹400‑₹500 per day.

Regulatory Backdrop

Following these breaches, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) ordered the removal of three apps—BAT‑BMS, Epoch Li‑ion, and Lossigy—from official app stores. The apps had exposed open Bluetooth channels that allowed anyone with a smartphone to issue discharge commands, creating a serious safety gap in the country’s rapidly expanding EV ecosystem.

Technical Architecture

BatteryPool’s solution hinges on encrypted firmware embedded in both the Battery Management System (BMS) and the charger. Communication occurs exclusively via an encrypted handshake over the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus, eliminating any reliance on unsecured Bluetooth or public‑facing APIs. Access is limited to authorized internal systems, designated personnel, and the BMS itself, leaving no wireless surface for rogue devices to discover or pair with.

Security‑by‑Design Philosophy

To further mitigate risk, the company configures its batteries to operate only with vetted charging infrastructure. This restriction reduces the chance of incompatible or malicious charging, improves overall battery health management, and keeps the asset within a monitored ecosystem. Approximately 90 % of BatteryPool’s units run on India‑manufactured BMS hardware, underscoring a commitment to domestic supply chain security.

Economic Impact

BatteryPool reports non‑performing asset (NPA) rates below 1 %, starkly contrasting the industry average that often exceeds 10 %. Moreover, residual battery value remains around 85 % even years beyond standard OEM warranties, offering drivers, fleet operators, and financiers a more reliable and financially viable asset.

Founder Ashwin Shankar emphasized, “Connected batteries are digital assets; their security is now inseparable from safety. By anchoring control to the charging environment, we protect drivers, passengers, and the battery itself.” He added that the underlying handshake was originally created to enforce a pay‑per‑use model for drivers, inadvertently solving a safety problem before it was even identified.

As India accelerates its EV transition, adopting security‑by‑design battery systems will be pivotal. BatteryPool’s approach could set a new benchmark for the industry, encouraging broader adoption of robust, tamper‑proof architectures across all commercial EV segments.