Ola has issued a response to the recent incident of an electric scooter catching fire in Pune. According to the company’s investigation, the fire was caused aftermarket parts that were installed in the scooter, leading to a short circuit. Ola has confirmed that the battery of the vehicle remains intact and functional. The good news is that the customer involved in the incident is safe and unharmed.
The incident was brought to light when a user shared a video on social media platform X, showcasing the Ola S1 scooter on fire near the parking lot of D.Y Patil College in Pimpri Chinchwad. The user expressed shock over the incident, writing, “Shocking….. Ola S1 caught fire at parking near D Y Patil Institute Pimpri Pune.” Pune Mirror was the first to report the news.
The video itself shows thick smoke emanating from the scooter while the fire brigade team attempts to control the flames with a water hose. While there were no reported casualties, the scooter suffered significant damage. It is worth noting that this is not the first time an Ola electric scooter has caught fire in Pune. A similar incident occurred in the Dhanori area of Pune in March 2022.
Another fire-related incident involving an Ola electric scooter was reported in July this year in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district. In that incident, an Ola electric scooter worth Rs 149,000 caught fire at a residence. Additionally, another user on social media platform X shared a similar incident involving an Ola S1 Pro scooter on October 20.
The user, identified as Abhijeeth Singh, detailed his experience with Ola Electric, stating that his Ola S1 Pro caught fire on August 24 around midnight. Fortunately, they were able to extinguish the fire after some effort. The user also shared an image of the extensively damaged vehicle in their post.
Ola’s response to the electric scooter fire incident highlights the importance of using genuine parts and following safety guidelines. It remains to be seen how the company will address these incidents and improve the safety of their electric scooters moving forward.