A Bengaluru-based photographer has raised concerns over a popular mall in the city, pointing out that it provides a separate parking lot for electric vehicles (EVs) despite having a multi-storied parking facility for other vehicles. Nishant Ratnakar took to social media to highlight the issue, sharing a photo of the outdoor parking lot designated for EVs at the south Bengaluru mall.
Expressing dismay over what he termed as “irrational fear psychosis”, Ratnakar questioned the decision to allocate EVs to park in outdoor spaces exposed to direct sunlight, while the mall offers a spacious multi-level parking facility for conventional vehicles. He mentioned that the security staff at the mall cited recent fire incidents involving EVs as the reason behind this practice, which he deemed as discriminatory.
Ratnakar tagged EV manufacturer Ather Energy and its founders, urging them to intervene and educate the mall’s management to dispel misconceptions about electric vehicles. He also called upon Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal to address the issue, highlighting the need for industry leaders to advocate for rational policies regarding EV parking.
Responding to the concerns raised by Ratnakar, Peak Bengaluru, a popular social media account, reached out to Aravind Prasad, head of charging infrastructure at Ather Energy, seeking the company’s intervention. Prasad assured that they would communicate with the mall management to address the issue.
The incident comes amidst multiple instances of electric vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, catching fire in recent years. Companies like Ola Electric, Okinawa Autotech, and PureEV have recalled thousands of units following such incidents, prompting the government to form a panel to examine the matter and warn companies of penalties for negligence.
