GM has advised some Bolt EV owners to park 50 meters away from other vehicles

DETROIT – General Motors advises some Chevrolet Bolt owners not to park their electric vehicles within 50 meters of other vehicles to reduce the risk of a potential fire spreading to nearby cars and trucks.

The warning follows the Detroit-based carmaker recalling more than 140,000 of the VEs produced since 2016 because of the risk of batteries spontaneously catching fire from “two rare manufacturing defects.”

GM has confirmed fires in at least 12 vehicles, but others continue to be reported. At least one of the vehicles recalled it would have caught fire and spread into a Maserati and Hyundai car in Sacramento, California.

According to GM spokesman Dan Flores, parking tips are given to customers who call the company’s call center to park their recalled vehicles in parking lots or structures. It is different from the previous warnings which involve parking the vehicle outside, not recharging it unattended overnight and changing the car’s charging parameters which have been released to all owners.

“In an effort to reduce potential damage to nearby structures and vehicles in the rare event of a potential fire, we recommend parking on the top floor or on an open-air bridge and parking 50 feet or more away. from another vehicle, ”Flores said in an email.

The updated parking guide was first reported by Bloomberg News.

The rebate is estimated to cost $ 1.8 billion, some of which the company plans to obtain from its battery supplier, LG Chem, which has produced the defective batteries in South Korea and Michigan.

GM said it is working with LG to remedy the problems and increase production of the new modules for potentially defective battery packs. It will notify customers when spare parts are ready.

GM says owners with questions should visit www.chevy.com/boltevrecall, contact their Chevrolet EV helpline at 1-833-EVCHEVY or contact your preferred Chevrolet EV dealer.