EV Cars "Unexpectedly" Catch Fire

Sparky cars gonna spark. Ignition: Spontaneous electric vehicle fires prompt recalls, but some owners stalled waiting on repairs

Yesterday, there were two posts on lithium-ion batteries and salt water. This is similar, minus the salt water.

Chevy, and several other companies impacted by battery defects that could increase the risk of a fire, have taken steps to minimize risk. Bolt owners were originally told to limit charging, avoid running their batteries below 70 miles to empty and to park outside immediately after charging and not leave the car indoors overnight.

In December 2021, more than a year after the first of three voluntary Bolt recalls, Chevy came up with a software update to mitigate the threat, but with the fix came a reduction in charging that drivers say limited how far they can go.

The update limited the Bolt’s charge to 80% and lifted the earlier restrictions for those who get it. The company wouldn’t provide specific numbers when asked how many recalled Bolts have had the update installed.

So your mileage is not what was advertised. Which means the car is less useful than you thought it was.

In the long run, Chevy will replace the battery. But some people have been waiting a year.

And so the lawyers are getting involved.

“When you get deprived of the benefit of your bargain, and you don’t get to use your car as intended, you’re getting ripped off,” Silverman said. “The biggest problem is there’s no alternative transportation available, so there’s no rental cars, nothing available and they’re really out in the cold.”

Click thru for a video of a house fire caused by an EV parked in the garage.

Go ahead and roll the dice. It's only your home, and maybe your life.