68,000 Chevy Bolt EVs are being recalled by General Motors after battery fires reports

General Motors Co. recalls some of its Electric Vehicles. You will need to take your Bolt to your local Chevy dealership for service. GM recalls 68,677 Bolt Electric Vehicles (50,900 in the United States) to identify five battery fires based on 2017 and 2019. General Motors has found the issue stems from high voltage batteries for Chevy Bolt EVs made at LG Chem Ochang, Korea. When charged in full or very close to its maximum levels, the battery could potentially catch fire. 

2020 model-year Bolts that use an updated battery are not affected by this recall. General Motors is investigating the cause of these EVs batterie fires.

Beginning November 17, 2020, General Motors will provide dealers with updated software to limit all Bolt vehicles in this production charge to 90% of their maximum capacity. General Motors is hoping to have a definitive solution in 2021 and is telling existing drivers to use either the Hilltop Reserve setting (2018 and earlier) or Target Charge Level (on 2019 models) to cap charge levels.

Tesla is being investigated by NHTSA over reports of fire as well, and other carmakers have also recalled some Electric Vehicles. Audi's recall covered about 500 E-Tron Electric Vehicles, and GM's recall covers two production years of the Chevy Bolt line. These battery fires leave us with some unanswered questions regarding the safety of batteries in electric vehicles.

General Motors intends to find and deploy a permanent solution to remove the 90% maximum charge limitation after the beginning of 2021.

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Chevrolet