General Motors Co urged some owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric cars to park and store the vehicles at least 15-metres away from other cars to reduce the risk that a spontaneous fire could spread.
The Detroit automaker has recalled all of the roughly 142,000 Bolts sold since 2016 because the battery can catch on fire. GM has taken a $1.8bn (roughly R26,177,310,000) hit so far for the cost of the recall and has been buying cars back from some disgruntled owners. The company expects to recoup much of the cost from battery supplier LG Corp.
The new advice is likely to rankle owners who are already limiting their use of the Bolt to avoid overheating the battery and risking a fire. The parking guidance – recommending a distance of 15-metres from other parked cars – is especially difficult for owners in urban areas. GM has confirmed 10 fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the agency has found 13 fires in Bolts, but the company hasn’t confirmed that the additional three are part of the current recall issue.
The Bolt normally can go 416km on a charge, but that has been limited by GM’s guidance to avoid a fire. The automaker told Bolt owners to limit the charge to 90%, plug in more frequently and avoid depleting the battery to below about 112km of remaining range. They’re also advised to park their vehicles outside immediately after charging and not to leave them charging indoors overnight.
GM has said the fires are a rare event and are the result of two uncommon defects that stem from a manufacturing problem in LG plants in Michigan and South Korea.
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