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Charging warning after EV fires

Carmaker takes cautious approach as it issues safety advice to motorists in the US.
Posted on 19 July, 2021
Charging warning after EV fires

General Motors Co is telling some owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) to park their vehicles outdoors after charging following two fires.

The warning in the US applies to models built between 2017 and 2019 that were the subject of a recent safety recall.

Owners are advised not to park their vehicles inside or leave them charging overnight while unattended.

It comes after two separate incidents where fires started while Bolt vehicles were being charged at properties in Vermont and New Jersey in July.

Both cars have been repaired as part of a recall of nearly 69,000 vehicles that were flagged for fire risks. The recall was initially announced in November by GM and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reports CNBC.

GM says: “Out of an abundance of caution, we are asking owners of 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EVs who were part of the recall population to park their vehicles outdoors immediately after charging and not leave their vehicles charging overnight while we investigate these incidents.”

The NHTSA notes battery cell packs in the affected cars have the potential to smoke and ignite internally, which could spread to the rest of the vehicle and cause a structure fire if the vehicle is parked inside a garage or near a house.