GM recalls EVs on risk of combustion

GM is recalling almost 70,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs following reports of five of them catching fire.

The AP’s Tom Krisher reported:

General Motors is recalling nearly 69,000 Chevrolet Bolt electric cars worldwide because the batteries have caught fire in five of them.

The company said Friday that it doesn’t know yet what’s causing the fires, but engineers are working to figure it out. Two people have suffered smoke inhalation due to the fires and a house was set ablaze.

U.S. safety regulators said the cars should be parked outdoors until the recall repairs have been made.

CNBC’s Michael Wayland wrote:

GM has confirmed five instances of fires that “could be related to the high voltage batteries” in the vehicles, according to Jesse Ortega, executive chief engineer for the Chevrolet Bolt EV.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in October opened an investigation into three reported fires involving Chevrolet Bolt EVs. The automaker is cooperating with the federal vehicle safety agency, Ortega said.

Kalea Hall from the Detroit News noted:

GM, which became aware of the incidents at the start of this summer, doesn’t believe the issue is present in all of the vehicles it’s recalling, but GM believes “it is prudent to limit the state of charge as a precaution as we continue our investigation,” Ortega said. 

Until consumers get their charging limits adjusted at the dealership, Chevrolet is asking them to change their settings to use “hilltop reserve” for 2017 and 2018 Bolts. Consumers with 2019 Bolt EVs, should use the target charge-level option and set the maximum capacity to 90%.