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GM tells Bolt EV owners to park on top floors of decks, away from other cars

Chevrolet is extending its shutdown at the plant where the Bolt is made, and says it won't resume production until it has a fix

David Shepardson, Reuters
Sep 16, 2021  •  September 20, 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

General Motors on Wednesday recommended Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle owners parking in decks do so on the top floor or on an open level, at least 50 feet away from other vehicles, citing potential fire risks.

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[UPDATE 20/09/2021: GM late September walked back the “park 50 feet away” recommendation to “leave ample space.”]

The precaution would “reduce potential damage to structures and nearby vehicles in the rare event of a potential fire,” a company spokesman said in an email. GM sent a notice to consumers who had asked about parking issues, he added.

GM had previously asked owners to park Bolt vehicles outdoors, away from structures, and to not charge them overnight.

GM also urged owners to not leave Bolt EVs charging unattended, even if using a charging station in a parking deck. Bloomberg News reported the recommendation earlier.

GM in August widened its Bolt recall to more than 140,000 vehicles to replace battery modules, at a cost now estimated at US$1.8 billion after reports of 10 fires. The automaker said it would seek reimbursement from GM battery supplier LG.

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Last week, the largest U.S. automaker said it would extend a shutdown of a Michigan assembly plant by two weeks in the aftermath of the Bolt battery issue recall.

GM said the extension of the production halt at its Orion Assembly plant that will go through at least September 24 was “a result of a battery pack shortage” related to the recall.

GM will not resume Bolt production or sales until it is satisfied that the recall remedy will address the fire risk issue, it added.

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