‘Tirri prank’ trend: E-rickshaw shutdown videos spark security concerns over battery apps

A viral social media trend dubbed the "tirri prank" has raised concerns after users remotely shut down e-rickshaws using battery-management apps. The Centre has reportedly ordered the removal of the apps following reports of misuse and potential security vulnerabilities.

Hyderabad: An unusual social media trend involving e-rickshaws has sparked concern across the country after videos emerged showing vehicles suddenly stopping in the middle of journeys. The phenomenon, popularly referred to online as the “tirri prank” or “tirri trend”, has rapidly spread across Instagram and other social media platforms.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaMcr5ixn1t/

---

The clips show people using mobile applications such as BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion to connect to nearby e-rickshaw batteries and shut them down remotely. Videos of moving e-rickshaws coming to a sudden halt with just a few taps on a smartphone quickly gained traction online, with many viewers sharing memes and jokes while overlooking the difficulties faced by drivers left stranded on the road.

Both applications are designed to work with certain lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. Their original purpose is to help owners and technicians monitor battery performance, including charge levels, temperature and overall condition.

The issue lies in the Battery Management System (BMS), the electronic unit that regulates how the battery operates. Some of these systems come with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing users to access battery information through a smartphone from a short distance away.

In some battery models, the same connection can also be used to temporarily stop the flow of power from the battery to the vehicle. While the feature was intended for maintenance checks, diagnostics and anti-theft functions, weak security settings in certain systems appear to have left them vulnerable to misuse.

The incident has also exposed a lack of awareness among many e-rickshaw drivers, several of whom said they were unaware that their batteries could be accessed through mobile applications or secured with passwords.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaUdG-eCTJH/

As the prank videos spread, another set of videos began appearing online, this time showing ways to restart affected vehicles. Some users suggested reconnecting through the app, while others demonstrated that pressing and holding the button on certain battery packs for a few seconds could disconnect the Bluetooth connection and restore operation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DaQSM4MNyvx/

The Centre has since ordered the removal of BAT-BMS and Epoch Li-ion from both the Android Play Store and Apple App Store following reports of their misuse in Delhi.