Angry over low mileage, man sets electric auto on fire

A man allegedly set his electric auto on fire at the entrance of a showroom in Jaipur on Tuesday, claiming he was frustrated over the vehicle’s poor mileage and the dealer’s failure to resolve the issue.
Mohan Solanki, a resident of Jodhpur district in Rajasthan, had purchased an electric auto worth Rs 5 lakh last year. He paid an advance of Rs 70,000 and has been repaying a monthly EMI of Rs 10,655.
According to Solanki, the showroom staff assured him that the vehicle would deliver a mileage of up to 180 kilometres on a single charge.
Initially, the electric auto reportedly performed as promised, giving a mileage of nearly 174 kilometres per charge.
However, over time, the mileage dropped drastically to just 70 to 74 kilometres on a full charge, affecting his livelihood and increasing financial pressure.
Solanki said he approached the showroom several times to complain about the reduced mileage.
He alleged that the staff neither provided a clear explanation for the problem nor took steps to repair or replace the vehicle, despite repeated requests.
Angered by what he described as the indifferent attitude of the showroom and mounting loan stress, Solanki went to the showroom on Tuesday. He parked the electric auto at the entrance, poured petrol on it and set it ablaze. The vehicle was completely gutted in the fire, triggering panic in the area.
On receiving information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. No injuries were reported in the incident. Police detained Solanki and questioned him regarding the incident.
An inquiry is under way to verify his claims about the vehicle’s mileage, the assurances given at the time of sale and the actions of the showroom staff.
Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.