The Chevrolet Bolt EV is displayed throughout the Los Angeles Auto Present on the Los Angeles Conference Middle on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles
The Chevrolet Bolt EV is displayed throughout the Los Angeles Auto Present on the Los Angeles Conference Middle on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
Josh Lefkowitz | Getty Photographs
Normal Motors is recalling tens of 1000’s of all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EVs because of danger of fireside.
The Detroit automaker stated Friday it’s recalling 68,667 of the vehicles globally from the 2017 by way of 2019 mannequin years, together with practically 51,000 within the U.S. The recall contains some automobiles being utilized by GM’s majority-owned autonomous automobile subsidiary Cruise.
GM has confirmed 5 cases of fires that “may very well be associated to the excessive voltage batteries” within the automobiles, in keeping with Jesse Ortega, government chief engineer for the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration in October opened an investigation into three reported fires involving Chevrolet Bolt EVs. The automaker is cooperating with the federal automobile security company, Ortega stated.
GM has a devoted group of engineers and consultants working to find out the reason for the fires, in keeping with Ortega. They’ve up to now discovered that frequent elements within the fires included automobiles had been at or close to full cost and had batteries produced between Might 2016 and Might 2019 by GM’s associate LG Chem in South Korea.
GM would not anticipate a full answer for the issue till subsequent 12 months. Within the meantime, GM is asking Bolt EV homeowners to schedule an appointment with a Chevrolet dealership starting Tuesday. The vendor will reflash and replace the automotive’s battery software program to restrict the utmost cost of the automobile to 90%.
Till prospects obtain the software program replace, GM is asking homeowners to alter their automobile’s settings to decrease its charging capability. It launched a video Friday on how to take action. If prospects are “uncomfortable” with altering the settings, GM stated they need to keep away from parking the automobiles in garages or carports till receiving the software program replace.
NHTSA’s probe coated 77,842 Bolt EVs from the 2017 by way of 2020 mannequin years. GM stated it’s not recalling automobiles from the 2020 model-year as a result of their batteries have a special formulation than the sooner fashions with no reviews of fires.