Amidst further reports of Chevrolet Bolt EV’s catching fire, while parked or charging, General Motors has expanded upon their November recall of 69,000 models by adding another 73,000 to the recall list. Upon the first recall, General Motors told owners to park their vehicles outdoors and avoid charging overnight. Now the company is further advising owners to stop charging their vehicles at 90% capacity and to avoid depleting the battery below 70 miles of the remaining range when possible.
The recall implicates questions about lithium-ion batteries, which are used in nearly every electric vehicle out on the market. General Motors is not alone as Ford, BMW, and Hyundai have all recalled electric vehicles due to battery defects.
While EV fires are still less common than fires originating from gas or diesel-powered vehicles, the current trend is concerning given the relative novelty and availability of electric vehicles to the public. EV’s are here to stay and will continue rolling out in various models as companies attempt to meet President Biden’s goal of electric vehicles reaching 50% of total U.S. sales by 2030.
Don’t wait until you see a report on the news about a recall involving your new electric vehicle. Instead, be proactive in helping yourself and your loved ones stay safe by regularly visiting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s searchable recall and safety complaint database to check your vehicle by year, make, model, or even Vehicle Identification Number.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a recalled vehicle, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-231-9360 or toll-free at 888-229-5588.