Consumer Court Orders Rs 10 Lakh Compensation For Electric Scooter Owner; Manufacturer Refuses To Help In Investigation


Mohul Ghosh

Mohul Ghosh

Jan 20, 2024


A District Consumer Commission in Telangana has ordered Chinese electric vehicle maker Benling India and a dealer to jointly pay ₹10 lakh as compensation to a consumer after an e-scooter fire incident due to battery explosion.

Consumer Court Orders Rs 10 Lakh Compensation For Electric Scooter Owner; Manufacturer Refuses To Help In Investigation

Benling Scooter Catches Fire

In the case from February 2023, a Benling Aura e-scooter purchased by complainant in April 2021 met with a battery explosion and caught fire, destroying the vehicle completely. The incident spotlights the lingering safety issues around Li-ion batteries in EVs.

The consumer approached both manufacturer Benling India and the dealer, seeking a replacement vehicle or refund of original cost along with 18% annual interest. As he did not receive any response, he then filed a formal complaint claiming ₹13.5 lakh reparations.

Manufacturer Untraceable

Despite legal notices by Medak District Consumer Commission, neither Benling India nor dealer appeared for hearings or offered any explanation regarding battery explosion investigation.

The commission emphasized that it is the automaker’s responsibility to probe and address such battery defects pointing to critical safety lapses.

In light of the apathy displayed and harm caused to consumer, the judges ordered the manufacturer and dealer to jointly pay compensation of ₹10 lakh including litigation costs within 30 days failing which 9% additional penalty would apply.

The ruling has been hailed for strengthening protection and grievance redressal avenues available for EV owners in India. It sends a stern warning for manufacturers to proactively investigate and mitigate technical risks, unlike Benling’s evasive approach that endangered consumer safety in this case.

More consumer courts standing up for victims and holding automakers accountable also raises hope for transparency and due diligence by EV industry to win trust.

Image Source


Mohul Ghosh
Mohul Ghosh
  • 1722 Posts

Subscribe Now!

Get latest news and views related to startups, tech and business

You Might Also Like

Business
Dec. 8, 2022

Beat The Burden Of Medical Inflation With A Health Insurance

As disease rates rise and medical technology develops, treatment costs climb. It’s essential to understand that medical costs are not exclusively associated with hospitals. The cost of prescription drugs, diagnostic procedures, ambulance and operating room fees, consultations with doctors, and other costs are also constantly increasing. All of them could put a big strain on […]

Business
Dec. 8, 2022

3 Biggest Changes Of iOS 16.2 Update That Every iPhone User Should Know!

In its latest update Apple said that it is preparing for the iOS 16.2 update for iPhones across the world. Notably, like the previous release, there are a couple of changes coming for the iPhones.  iOS 16.2 Update Release Date So far, Apple has not announced a release date for iOS 16.2 update. Reportedly, the […]

Business
Dec. 8, 2022

300 Microsoft Employees Create Employee Union, First Time Ever: This Is How Microsoft Reacted

Around 300 workers at Microsoft Corp.’s ZeniMax Studios have commenced the process of forming a union which is said to be the first at the software giant in the US.  Here, Microsoft Corp.’s ZeniMax Studios known for popular video games including Skyrim and Fallout. Forming Union In Microsoft Corp Moreover, the quality assurance employees at […]

Business
Dec. 7, 2022

India Beats China In Air Travel Safety: Ranking Jumps From 102 To 48 In Global Aviation Safety

India’s air safety protocols and executions have improved drastically over the years, as validated by the findings of a specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Civil Aviation Organization or ICAO. The UN watchdog has upgraded India’s ranking in terms of aviation safety to the 48th position, jumping past the rankings of countries like […]

Recent Posts

Related Videos

   

Subscribe Now!

Get latest news and views related to startups, tech and business

who's online