Another Chevy Bolt EV caught fire this week. This seems to be GM’s response:
General Motors Co. urged some owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric cars to park and store the vehicles at least 50 feet away from other cars to reduce the risk that a spontaneous fire could spread.
Source: GM Tells Some Chevy Bolt Owners to Park 50 Feet Away From Others on Fire Risk – Bloomberg
50 feet?
This is not possible for many owners who live in apartments, many who live in urban homes (driveways are closer than 50 feet), or who need to park their car in a retailer’s parking lot, or even an employer’s parking lot, and especially those that need to park in parking garages.
Some owners say they have no possible way to meet the 50 foot restriction – even Chevy dealers will not permit them to store the unusable Bolt EVs at Chevy lots.
And what do you do when you park your vehicle well away from others – and then other people later park next to your Bolt Fire Bomb? Some think GM issued the 50 foot directive to attempt to absolve GM of liability if your car catches fire and damages other cars or property. If you cannot comply, that is your problem, not GM’s. Ugh.
This new directive comes after limiting the mileage to 100-160 miles of range (depending on the model year), and telling owners to charge outside only, and to actively watch the vehicle while charging – for 12 hours?
Owners have no estimate on when GM will begin replacing their defective batteries. The various recalls affect up to 140,000 vehicles – some think it will take one year or more to manufacture new battery packs.
Some owners are seeking to have GM provide replacement loaner vehicles or to buy back the defective Bolt EVs.
This is a catastrophe for GM’s EV program.
