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General Motors to replace battery modules for some Bolt EVs after fire risks

The automaker's traced the source of the problem to a rare manufacturing defect in its LG-built cells

Staff, Reuters
Aug 17, 2021  •  August 17, 2021  •  1 minute read  •  Join the conversation
General Motors assembly workers connect a battery pack underneath a partially assembled 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicle on the assembly line at Orion Assembly in Lake Orion, Michigan, U.S.,
General Motors assembly workers connect a battery pack underneath a partially assembled 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicle on the assembly line at Orion Assembly in Lake Orion, Michigan, U.S., Photo by Rebecca Cook /Reuters

Automaker General Motors said it will replace all battery modules in some Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) under a recall announced last month.

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The module replacements, which could start as early as later this month, come after GM recalled its 2017 to 2019 model year Bolt battery-powered cars for the second time in less than a year. Two fire incidents were reported after the initial recall, including one in a Bolt that had updated software.

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, said in a statement issued on Monday it would replace recalled vehicles’ lithium-ion battery modules with new modules, rather than replacing entire battery packs. “The battery pack case, wiring, and the other pack components are not defective and do not need replacing,” it said.

GM said earlier the high-voltage batteries being recalled were produced at South Korean manufacturer LG Chem Ltd’s Ochang facility in Korea. The automaker said on July 23 it and LG had identified the presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell as the root cause of battery fires in certain Bolt EVs.

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The automaker also asked owners to charge their vehicle after each use and avoid depleting the battery below approximately 70 miles (113 km) of remaining range, where possible, to reduce the risk of a fire.

GM said it was still recommending customers park vehicles outside immediately after charging and not leave them charging overnight. It said customers should also seek out the software update issued as part of the initial recall.

The automaker plans to use a different-generation battery when it launches electric Hummer and Cadillac vehicles over the next year.

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