G.M. Is Expanding the Chevrolet Bolt Recall

Other automakers are pursuing similar strategies to transition away from internal-combustion engines. Both Ford Motor and Volkswagen have budgeted amounts similar to G.M. for electric-vehicle development. Ford has introduced an electric S.U.V. called the Mustang Mach-E and expects to add an electric version of its F-150 pickup truck next year.

Volkswagen has started selling its own electric S.U.V., the ID.4 and is ramping up production, starting to build the vehicle at its plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Cooling and controlling vehicle battery packs has proved to be a challenge for automakers. The high voltage in the batteries generates tremendous heat, and fires typically burn with great intensity and can take hours to put out.

Tesla cars have caught on fire because of overheating in their battery systems. Hyundai recently recalled a small number of electric Kona S.U.V.s to replace batteries.

The expansion to the Bolt recall covers 73,000 vehicles, of which 60,000 are in the United States. A recall a month ago covered 2017-19 models, a total of 68,000 cars, including about 51,000 in the U.S. market.

The move on Friday is the third fix in the last year involving the Bolt. In November, the company offered to add software to address concerns that some of the high-voltage batteries “may pose a risk of fire when charged to full, or very close to full, capacity,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Two fires occurred after that recall, including one in a Bolt that had the updated software.

The recalled Bolts use battery packs made in South Korea by LG Chem, which formed a joint venture with G.M. that is building battery plants in Ohio and Tennessee and expects to build others as the automaker rolls out new electric models. G.M. and LG are planning to add two other battery factories in the United States, but the locations have not been chosen.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/business/gm-chevrolet-bolt-battery-recall.html