A number of years again, Normal Motors needed to recall 142,000 Bolts in a significant fiasco because of hearth threat. This time round, nonetheless, only a small variety of Bolts are being recalled, solely 107. However the threat of fireplace is deemed excessive – in accordance with the NHTSA – if these automobiles are charged to full or almost full capability.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) posted a recall of the Chevrolet Bolt EVs and its bigger model, the EUV, overlaying mannequin 12 months 2020-22 that have been recalled and repaired beforehand over the identical threat. 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 threat.
“The set up of superior diagnostic software program might have failed,” the NHTSA said. “As such, the excessive voltage battery might catch hearth when charged to full or almost full capability.”
Chevy sellers will reinstall the software program freed from cost, after all, to repair the issue. In the meantime, the NHTSA advises house owners of the recalled automobile to take steps to keep away from a fireplace threat, together with setting the “goal cost stage” function within the automobile to 90%, parking exterior after charging, and avoiding depleting the battery to 70 miles of vary remaining.
GM spokesman Kevin Kelly advised Detroit Free Press that the corporate isn’t conscious of any Bolts having caught hearth because of the problem, and that it is a voluntary recall to appropriately set up superior diagnostic software program from “an earlier area motion involving these automobiles.” He added: “The software program might fail to determine faulty battery modules that require substitute, rising the danger of a possible automobile hearth.”
GM Bolt house owners suffered heaps of frustration following three recollects of the automobiles beginning in late 2020, with a complete of 142,000 Bolt EVs recalled a 12 months later. These recollects concerned mannequin 12 months 2017 going by means of mannequin 12 months 2022. However in contrast to this newest recall, these recollects have been because of battery defects that would begin a fireplace, with 18 Bolts catching hearth 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 house owners restricted warranties of eight years or 100,000 miles. LG additionally reimbursed GM for $1.9 billion in prices and charges because of the recall.
Final December, GM minimize 945 jobs from the meeting plant in Lake Orion because of the 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. After all, GM says it’s bringing again the standard Chevy Bolt EV, at the least 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 are able to count on a re-emergence of its best-seller subsequent 12 months.
Picture credit score: Normal Motors Chevy Bolt
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