The Vermont State Police produced this picture of the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV that caught fire on July 1, 2021 in the driveway of state Rep. Timothy Briglin, a Democrat.
Vermont Condition Police
General Motors has issued a second recall of its 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EVs just after at the very least two of the electric powered vehicles that were being fixed for a earlier difficulty erupted into flames.
The automaker claimed Friday that officials with GM and LG Power Remedy, which provides the vehicle’s battery cells, have determined a next “rare producing defect” in the EVs that raises the hazard of fire. The remember handles about 69,000 of the cars and trucks globally, together with almost 51,000 in the U.S.
To resolve the trouble, GM stated it will switch defective battery modules in the autos, which can be high-priced but will be absolutely free to entrepreneurs. The automaker says the repair is diverse than the earlier resolve, which mostly relied on software package and, in some circumstances, replacement modules.
“We’re doing work with our provider and production teams to decide how to best expedite battery potential for module replacement below the recall,” GM spokesman Dan Flores mentioned in an e mail. “These teams are operating around the clock on this situation.”
The organization “will notify prospects when substitute areas are prepared,” Flores stated.
In the meantime, GM is inquiring impacted Bolt EV homeowners to set their automobiles to a 90% point out of charge limitation using Hilltop Reserve manner (for 2017-2018 design a long time) or Focus on Cost Stage (for 2019 model year) manner.
GM also is asking house owners to stay away from depleting their battery beneath close to 70 miles of remaining vary, and as advised last week, proceed to not park their automobiles within or charge them unattended overnight “out of an abundance of caution.”
The fist recall of the Bolt EVs owing to fires was introduced in November by GM and the Countrywide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration. The automaker rolled out what it thought was a long lasting resolve for the challenge earlier this calendar year.
A single of the current fires happened while the auto was charging at the property of a Vermont state lawmaker before this thirty day period. GM mentioned it has verified nine battery-similar fires in Bolt EVs in the U.S.
The NHTSA final week said battery cell packs in the impacted autos have the likely to smoke and ignite internally, which could spread to the rest of the car and result in a structure fireplace if the car is parked inside of a garage or near a residence.
GM has bought back again some of the recalled cars but has declined to say how quite a few. Automakers often buy back again recalled vehicles to appease sad buyers and keep away from triggering point out lemon regulations and litigation.
GM suggests house owners with issues should really visit www.chevy.com/boltevrecall or get in touch with its Chevrolet EV assistance line at 1-833-EVCHEVY or get hold of their preferred Chevrolet EV dealer.
