A number of years again, Common Motors needed to recall 142,000 Bolts in a significant fiasco attributable to fireplace danger. This time round, nevertheless, only a small variety of Bolts are being recalled, solely 107. However the danger of fireplace is deemed excessive – in keeping with the NHTSA – if these autos are charged to full or practically full capability.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) posted a recall of the Chevrolet Bolt EVs and its bigger model, the EUV, protecting mannequin yr 2020-22 that have been recalled and repaired beforehand over the identical danger. Apparently, the beforehand put in superior diagnostic software program, which is meant to detect whether or not or not the battery is flawed, is itself defective, which might, in flip, result in a fireplace danger.
“The set up of superior diagnostic software program might have failed,” the NHTSA acknowledged. “As such, the excessive voltage battery might catch fireplace when charged to full or practically full capability.”
Chevy sellers will reinstall the software program freed from cost, after all, to repair the issue. In the meantime, the NHTSA advises homeowners of the recalled car to take steps to keep away from a fireplace danger, together with setting the “goal cost degree” function within the car to 90%, parking outdoors after charging, and avoiding depleting the battery to 70 miles of vary remaining.
GM spokesman Kevin Kelly informed Detroit Free Press that the corporate just isn’t conscious of any Bolts having caught fireplace as a result of situation, and that this can be a voluntary recall to appropriately set up superior diagnostic software program from “an earlier discipline motion involving these autos.” He added: “The software program might fail to determine faulty battery modules that require substitute, rising the danger of a possible car fireplace.”
GM Bolt homeowners suffered heaps of frustration following three recollects of the autos beginning in late 2020, with a complete of 142,000 Bolt EVs recalled a yr later. These recollects concerned mannequin yr 2017 going via mannequin yr 2022. However not like this newest recall, these recollects have been attributable to battery defects that might begin a fireplace, with 18 Bolts catching fireplace whereas parked. GM confirmed that 13 of these fires have been attributable to faulty batteries.
LG Power Answer, the battery maker for the Bolt, changed the batteries with new battery packs and gave Bolt homeowners restricted warranties of eight years or 100,000 miles. LG additionally reimbursed GM for $1.9 billion in prices and charges as a result of recall.
Final December, GM lower 945 jobs from the meeting plant in Lake Orion as a result of firm ending its manufacturing of the Bolt EV and EUV. The manufacturing unit is slated to supply Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV on GM’s new Ultium EV platform after a $4 billion funding, however the firm has pushed again the launch from 2024 to late 2025. In fact, GM says it’s bringing again the well-liked Chevy Bolt EV, no less than the EUV, with the next-gen mannequin to reemerge on the Ultium platform in 2025.
Since, discovering a Bolt hasn’t been straightforward, with solely a handful noticed on dealership tons – however we will anticipate a re-emergence of its best-seller subsequent yr.
Picture credit score: Common Motors Chevy Bolt
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