General Motors issued multiple recalls of 141,000 electric vehicles due to the risk of battery fires. Thus far, the automaker found two possible defects that, if appearing in the same battery, would increase the risk of the lithium-ion battery catching fire.
About a dozen Chevy Bolt fires have been investigated.
One possible cause is a folded separator. The separator is a thin sheet of material that separates the cathode (the positive electrode) from the anode (the negative electrode).
The other possible cause is a torn anode tab. The tab allows the cell to be wired into a module, or a group of cells, and into the battery pack.
General Motors told Bloomberg that fires in one module should not spread to nearby modules. However, a fire in one part of the battery pack can still substantially damage a vehicle. Compared to conventional vehicles, electric vehicle battery fires are particularly difficult to extinguish.
The recalls cost General Motors roughly $800 million this year, and could ultimately cost $1.8 billion. Production of Chevrolet Bolt vehicles was suspended, but factories are going to produce new battery modules. General Motors expects to start replacing battery modules in mid-October.
In the meantime, Chevy Bolt owners were advised to limit their vehicles’ charging capacity to 90%, avoid depleting their battery below roughly 70 miles of remaining range, park their vehicles outside 50 feet away from other vehicles, and avoid charging vehicles overnight.
Source: Car and Driver
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