GM expands battery recall to ALL 2017-2022 Chevy Bolt EVs including EUV, blames supplier LG

[TruckElectric]

GM expands battery recall to ALL 2017-2022 Chevy Bolt EVs including EUV, blames supplier LG



Seth Weintraub
- Aug. 20th 2021 1:59 pm PT

@llsethj

GM Friday afternoon announced it would expand its Bolt recall to ALL Chevy Bolts including ones manufactured in the US and including the 2022 EV and EUVs. It looks like LG is being thrown under the bus here.

GM has changed its tone on the recall press releases, now putting the blame squarely on the battery supplier.

General Motors is voluntarily expanding the current Chevrolet Bolt EV recall to cover the remaining 2019 and all 2020-2022 model year vehicles, including the Bolt EUV. In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects – a torn anode tab and folded separator – present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire. Out of an abundance of caution, GM will replace defective battery modules in Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs with new modules, with an expected additional cost of approximately $1 billion.

Just 5 days ago we noted that GM expanded the recall to fully replace all batteries in affected Chevy Bolts with batteries made in Korea, which happened until mid-2020.

Today’s announcement comes as we’ve reported 2 separate incidents of 2020 models with batteries made in the US exploding. We’ve compiled a full list of all Chevy Bolt Fires here.

In the short term, GM reccomends:

1. Set Bolt to a 90 percent state of charge limitation using Target Charge Level mode. Instructions on how to do this are available on chevy.com/boltevrecall. If customers are unable to successfully make these changes, or do not feel comfortable making these changes, GM is asking them to visit their dealer to have these adjustments completed.
2. Charge their vehicle more frequently and avoid depleting their battery below approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) of remaining range, where possible.
3. Park their vehicles outside immediately after charging and should not leave their vehicles charging indoors overnight.

This includes all Bolts ever made, including 2022 EVs and EUVs still sitting on GM lots.

Our experience has shown that older Bolts seem to be having more issues but today’s news is that LG packs made over the last 3 years could still have the defect.

After further investigation into the manufacturing processes at LG and disassembling battery packs, GM discovered manufacturing defects in certain battery cells produced at LG manufacturing facilities beyond the Ochang, Korea, plant. GM and LG are working to rectify the cause of these defects. In the meantime, GM is pursuing commitments from LG for reimbursement of this field action.

That’s a huge undertaking and means that LG and GM’s Ultium partnership could be at risk if an agreement can’t be made.

As a possible upside, batteries with these new modules will come with an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty (or 8-year/160,000 km limited warranty in Canada).

But when will these batteries be made? GM and LG basically have to make packs for the last 5 model years of Bolts and then they have to be swapped out, a huge undertaking. GM says it is working aggressively with LG to increase production as soon as possible. Customers will be notified when replacement parts are ready

Customers can visit www.chevy.com/boltevrecall or contact the Chevrolet EV Concierge 1-833-EVCHEVY (available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–midnight ET; Saturday and Sunday from noon–9 p.m. ET) or contact their preferred Chevrolet EV dealer for more information.

Full press release follows:
General Motors to Recall Additional Bolt EVs

• Supplier manufacturing defect may lead to battery fire in rare circumstances
• GM will pursue reimbursement from supplier

DETROIT – General Motors is voluntarily expanding the current Chevrolet Bolt EV recall to cover the remaining 2019 and all 2020-2022 model year vehicles, including the Bolt EUV. In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects – a torn anode tab and folded separator – present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire. Out of an abundance of caution, GM will replace defective battery modules in Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs with new modules, with an expected additional cost of approximately $1 billion.

“Our focus on safety and doing the right thing for our customers guides every decision we make at GM,” said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “As leaders in the transition to an all-electric future, we know that building and maintaining trust is critical. GM customers can be confident in our commitment to taking the steps to ensure the safety of these vehicles.”

After further investigation into the manufacturing processes at LG and disassembling battery packs, GM discovered manufacturing defects in certain battery cells produced at LG manufacturing facilities beyond the Ochang, Korea, plant. GM and LG are working to rectify the cause of these defects. In the meantime, GM is pursuing commitments from LG for reimbursement of this field action.

This new recall population includes:

• 9,335 (6,989 in the U.S. and 1,212 in Canada) – 2019 model year Bolt EVs that were not included in the previous recall
• 63,683 (52,403 in the U.S. and 9,019 in Canada) – 2020–2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs

To provide customers peace of mind, batteries with these new modules will come with an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty (or 8-year/160,000 km limited warranty in Canada).

GM is working aggressively with LG to increase production as soon as possible. GM will notify customers when replacement parts are ready.

Until customers in the new recall population receive replacement modules, they should:

1. Set their vehicle to a 90 percent state of charge limitation using Target Charge Level mode. Instructions on how to do this are available on chevy.com/boltevrecall. If customers are unable to successfully make these changes, or do not feel comfortable making these changes, GM is asking them to visit their dealer to have these adjustments completed.

2. Charge their vehicle more frequently and avoid depleting their battery below approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) of remaining range, where possible.

3. Park their vehicles outside immediately after charging and should not leave their vehicles charging indoors overnight.

Customers can visit www.chevy.com/boltevrecall or contact the Chevrolet EV Concierge 1-833-EVCHEVY (available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–midnight ET; Saturday and Sunday from noon–9 p.m. ET) or contact their preferred Chevrolet EV dealer.

Canadian customers can visit the Chevrolet Owner’s Centre or contact their preferred dealer.

• EN: www.chevrolet.ca/boltevrecall
• FR: https://www.chevrolet.ca/rappelboltev

SOURCE: ELECTREK

 

[TruckElectric]

Will this news slow down the EV revolution? Certainly the general publics perception of EV's has taken a big hit. Along with the NHTSA investigation of Tesla and their previous battery fires doesn't help the general publics view of EV's.

Always something to throw a monkey wrench in progress..........

 

[CyberT]

GM stock finished the day down .57%...... a half of a percent (down 2% in after-hours) It's like it almost didn't even happen. Recalling every single Bolt made in the past 5 years to replace the most expensive part of the vehicle????

What would happen to Tesla if they announced the same recall????

I don't understand if it's biased towards Tesla from the main street media and or investors just simply don't care enough about GM to change their position.

 

[Diehard]

GM stock finished the day down .57%...... a half of a percent (down 2% in after-hours) It's like it almost didn't even happen. Recalling every single Bolt made in the past 5 years to replace the most expensive part of the vehicle????

What would happen to Tesla if they announced the same recall????

I don't understand if it's biased towards Tesla from the main street media and or investors just simply don't care enough about GM to change their position.

If GM is successful in holding LG fully accountable, there is not a whole lot of reason to take a hit.

All it means is that I can finally get a really good deal on a used Bolt.

But if they are not, things could change quickly.

 

[CyberT]

If GM is successful in holding LG fully accountable, there is not a whole lot of reason to take a hit.

All it means is that I can finally get a really good deal on a used Bolt.

True, if they can recoup that billion dollars from LG then they should be ok financially. But where is the end of all times rhetoric that Tesla would slapped with?

The same question applies If Tesla held Panasonic liable and reclaimed the billion dollars. Shorts, Bears, and everyone else would be lighting fires all over the place.

This rant from me is kinda rhetorical, we all see the unjust media coverage/lies. Nothing really to debate but it does frustrate me.

 

[Diehard]

True, if they can recoup that billion dollars from LG then they should be ok financially. But where is the end of all times rhetoric that Tesla would slapped with?

The same question applies If Tesla held Panasonic liable and reclaimed the billion dollars. Shorts, Bears, and everyone else would be lighting fires all over the place.

This rant from me is kinda rhetorical, we all see the unjust media coverage/lies. Nothing really to debate but it does frustrate me.

There is no doubt there are Tesla haters and Shorts that use any excuse to blow things out of proportion but logically speaking proportion matters too. All Tesla makes is EV so a bad EV news will have a larger impact. EVs at this time is a much smaller proportion of GM output. But I do get your point. I have a lightening reservation and in that Forum, I do see Anti Tesla comments (not often but I do).

 

[DarinCT]

LG is in the business in a lot of things so I wondered what LG's market cap is relative to GM. Apparently 27,565 Trillion, pretty nice, lol. Turns out it is about 22B in USD, whereas GM is about $82B.

 

[Crissa]

Market cap is so different than capital+revenue. Sometimes it just doesn't seem to make sense.

-Crissa

 

[Ogre]

The impact of lack of impact show just how little the electrification of the auto means to GM investors. The people and companies that invest in Tesla are not the same.

Also. If Tesla had to recall every EV, that is their entire business. With GM it’s just a small chunk of it.

It’s possible this drags Teslas stock down as much as GM as this puts a bit of a cloud over the whole industry.