GM’s Software Fix For Bolts and EUVs Might Have A Problem

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Not too long ago, 107 house owners of Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV autos bought some unhealthy information: one more battery-related recall. Whereas the numbers of autos are small, it may imply that GM’s repair that ended the battery alternative marketing campaign isn’t holding up as hoped.

Some Background

Earlier than I get into the latest information, let’s evaluation what’s already occurred with Bolt autos.

In brief, faulty battery cells from LG Chem began inflicting fires just a few years in the past. As soon as just a few fires occurred and the trigger was decided, a restricted recall occurred. Then, the recall expanded to incorporate all Bolt and Bolt EUV autos. This was the purpose at which I purchased my Bolt EUV, and it bought a recent pack on the supplier earlier than I purchased it (which is nice, as a result of it sat for a very good whereas).

Upon analyzing recalled battery cells, GM realized that it actually was only a small share of Bolts that had the faulty cells. So, the corporate stopped changing battery packs (one thing that angered individuals who had been promised a brand new pack) and as a substitute began putting in a software program monitoring program that might look out for indicators of broken battery cells.

What actually stunk about this was that the software program repair quickly nerfs the vehicles. For hundreds of miles, house owners must put up with restricted vary till the software program provides the go forward and unlocks the battery’s full potential once more. Ouch!

Lawsuits are ongoing, and for a number of causes. Individuals who had vehicles nerfed ready for a battery, individuals who didn’t get a battery, and individuals who had vehicles nerfed after not getting a brand new battery all suffered one thing and anticipate compensation.

A Few Vehicles Weren’t Fastened By The Software program

The information now’s that 107 Bolts are topic to a brand new recall as a result of (per the NHTSA) “the installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed. As such, the high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.”

For these fortunate few, the treatment is to set the utmost cost degree to 90%, cost extra incessantly to get wanted vary, don’t go under 70 miles of remaining vary, and hold the automobile parked exterior as a lot as doable.

GM advised Detroit Free Press that not one of the 107 autos are recognized to have caught fireplace, however GM is aware of that the autos aren’t appearing like they need to. The one factor house owners of the affected vehicles might want to do is head to the supplier for one more set up of a software program replace, which GM says can be secure when put in appropriately.

May This Be A Wider Downside?

Sadly, there’s no option to know if it is a wider drawback. GM says it’s not, and that the autos simply weren’t up to date correctly. However, I’m imagining that many Bolt house owners are actually going to be skeptical as a result of the unique recall was initially thought to solely be for a small subset of the autos earlier than increasing to cowl all Bolts after which being changed with a displeasing software program replace.

Skepticism and emotions of THE GODDESS apart, there is no such thing as a proof at this level that we’re in for a wider recall once more. That is in all probability simply an remoted incident of a software program replace at one or two sellers getting bungled one way or the other. What’s going to suck for these drivers is beginning the check interval once more, and having their automobile nerfed, once more. However, for the remainder of us, it’s in all probability not going to be a problem once more.

Why This Issues A Lot For GM

In some methods, the Chevy Bolt and EUV is a has-been car for GM. Manufacturing ended nearly a yr in the past. The final new ones have all been offered, except for the uncommon straggler after all. In concept, GM doesn’t have to impress us as Bolt house owners as a result of they’ve moved on to different merchandise that want higher reputations.

However, the Bolt and Bolt EUV had been GM’s best-selling EVs ever. The corporate offered so lots of them, and so many extra are on the used market now that when somebody talks about Chevrolet EVs, the Bolt Brothers will come to thoughts. It’s a bit just like the banks of England in Mary Poppins. Whereas stands the Bolt, GM’s EV program stands. When the Bolt falls, GM’s EV program falls.

After canceling the car, GM discovered {that a} mistake had been made. The budget-friendly EV was the center of what Chevrolet was providing. It was the one factor that they had over Tesla. Ultium autos weren’t doing too scorching, and the corporate has since determined it’s completed with Ultium branding. Throwing the highly-recognized Bolt branding away ended up being a giant mistake

So, GM determined that the Bolt wanted to come back again. Within the close to future, it’s going to be produced in Kansas once more, however with a LiFePO4 (LFP) battery, sooner charging, and on the identical low worth. Extra just lately, the corporate introduced that the brand new Bolt (based mostly on the EUV) would soon be joined by a whole family of Boltsmaking the car the centerpiece of the EV effort once more.

With the Bolt taking its place as the highest EV in GM’s monetary planning once more, the destiny of right now’s Bolt proprietor is extra vital than ever. If the corporate doesn’t preserve the repute of the car, the Bolt will go the way in which of the Ultium, and GM gained’t have anything to fall again on.

Both Method, The Fireplace Threat Is Over

All of this having been stated, I’d must conclude that this story isn’t unhealthy for GM. 107 vehicles with a botched software program replace is nothing in comparison with round 140,000 Bolts offered. None of them caught fireplace. None of them have had indignant house owners on social media (that we all know of as of this writing). The autos can be high quality, even when it’s a ache for just a few folks.

The extra vital factor is that the fires aren’t coming again. The software program replace appears to be detecting any remaining defective cells, and the vehicles that bought new packs aren’t going up in flames. So, barring one thing bizarre occurring or a giant lie from GM, that is in all probability not a giant deal.

Featured picture by GM.