The Bolt fire statistics look very convincing to me (12 fires out of 242,000 manufactured Bolts is a great ratio if you ask me!) For that reason, I'm in no frenzy to get my battery replaced ASAP. GM will eventually replace it all right as promised, but the later I get the new battery, the later the new warranty will start, the longer my Bolt's new heart will last, and the more time we will have together. And that's exactly what I look forward to, keeping my Bolt for as long as I can. Love this car, absolutely and unconditionally.
I've studied rechargeable battery tech as a hobby, and these failures are completely normal. All rechargeable cells develop tiny solid crystals when the chemistry is highly purified, such as when a cell is at 100% or 0% charge, and when it is very hot. All kinds of rechargeable batteries experience crystal growth, including lead-acid and nickel-cadmium. Crystals are the cause of the NiCad memory effect. AGM lead-acid cells use fiberglass to try to trap and contain the crystals. Much of cell engineering is about trying to prevent crystals from forming, but there is no way to completely stop them from appearing. When crystals form, they do not redissolve again, and the cell permanently loses reactivity and charge capacity. The crystals gradually grow larger over time, especially when the cell sits at 100% or 0% charge continuously, and is hot. This is why lithium ion cells commonly only operate from 20% to 80% charge, to try to avoid crystal growth, and why repeatedly charging to 100% will rapidly cause loss of storage capacity. If your phone sits in the sun cooking on the dash of your car, it is at high risk of forming crystals and permanently losing capacity. Eventually the crystals becomes physically large or consolidated enough that they can bridge the gap between the anode and cathode, and they short out the cell, causing the cell to discharge through the crystal bridge. In a huge battery pack with lots of parallel cells or a large consolidated slab, all the parallel stored capacity will discharge through the crystal bridge, causing thermal runaway, boiling of electrolyte until the cell casing pops, and now the sodium is exposed to the air and burning. Tesla stops this problem from occurring by using tiny individual cells, each with a fuse on it. If any one cell shorts, the rest of the cells in parallel will try to discharge through it. This blows the fuse and the dead cell is removed from the pack. The remaining good cells can still be used, though with slightly lower overall capacity. The Bolt is using a huge consolidated flat slab of a cell, rather than tiny individual cells in parallel. If it develops a crystal short the entire parallel capacity of the cell slab will discharge and there is no way to stop it, leading to thermal runaway. Also the Bolt has an inadequate cooling system compared to Tesla. The Bolt only cools the bottom edge of the cells which are all pressed tightly together. Telsa weaves a flat tube between cell layers so there is much greater cooling for any one individual cell than in the Bolt pack. **The Bolt fires can be fixed, but the Bolt would have to stop using the huge consolidated cell slab, and instead shift to tiny square pouch cells, each with a separate fuse and wired in parallel in place of the giant slab.... similar to what Tesla is doing.** This new design would still have the same inadequate cooling unless the engineers also weave a liquid cooling plate between each slab/pouch layer rather than only cooling the edge of the overall pack assembly.
@@elijahhmarshall thanks but no thanks, just force a chevy bolt buyback and get a tesla model 3 and teach Mary Barra CEO that it is simply not acceptable to be playing around with EV Bolt customers; they demand and should get their cars brought back by them and then have the freedom to buy or not buy a chevy bolt if they only want to; I would not trust the Chevy Bolt EV again!
So well stated! My only reservation in recommending the Bolt EV to people before this past year was "Sit in it to make sure the seats work for you." Now I'm struggling to make a good recommendation for anything in the price range. So relieved we got out of ours (due to aforementioned seats more than anything) before this hit, but really sad for those who have had to deal with this.
Just a thought but I don't believe Prizmatic or Pouch cells will ever be adequately cooled via cold plates during high power HVDC charging. Part of the reason Tesla avoided them was that it would be difficult to keep the batteries cool as they planned for even higher power Superchargers. IMHO heat transfer to a cold plate will never be as quick or effective as with coolant circulating directly around a cylindrical cell. In addition to being defectively manufactured (which I believe exacerbated the problem), I believe the damage to these cells was also cumulative from each HVDC session. I don't believe the cold plate approach can respond quick enough to adequately deal with surges in heat buildup. I think if one were to investigate this deeper they'd find that people who charged exclusively at home on Level 1 or Level 2 chargers never experienced problems with their battery packs.
@@Tron-Jockey there are several details I’d like to see: How many of the fire Bolts were plugged in on level 1 vs level 2? How many were not plugged in when they self Immolated? -if DCFC is an issue, why haven’t any fires occurred at a supercharger?
LG's Holland MI battery factory, which has been supplying batteries for Chevy Bolts for the past few years, is rated at 5GWh of capacity. The total of Bolts sold in the US, 2017 to date, have a total battery rating of just under 5GWh. Depending on how much 'new capacity' LG is bringing online, at present it looks like GM would need to shut down Bolt production and dedicate the entire output of the Holland facility in order to replace all existing Bolt batttery packs by 2023. FYI, I bought my 2017 Premeire in 2019 used with 82k miles on it. Somebody rode her hard. I'm at 97k miles now, and looking forward to getting an entirely new, longer range battery with a brand new warranty.
It sounds like GM is going to prioritize the battery replacements before resuming car production. Though a very good strategy for existing customers, I suspect the global chip shortage is a large factor as well.
@@ejd1984 Also, the rebates, that are supposed to be returning for Bolts, will send a frenzy of buyers to the EV showrooms. The dealers can afford to wait until those rebates are reinstated in order to avoid discounting at their expense, such as after April 2020( end of GM EV rebates) to now. I did better on my November '20 purchase than I would have with the rebates. Also, end of the year helped.
In my opinion, many are over reacting to this issue which in reality is very low risk. I plan to stick with my 2017 Bolt and get a brand new battery and warranty. This has been a big blow to GM and LG, but they are doing the right thing and I have confidence it will work out well. I still think the Bolt is the best EV value available and I have loved my Bolt.
unfortunately no such thing as "over reacting" to battery fires (ie, Thermal Runaway). no, there is only UNDER REACTING and a FAILURE to "take things seriously". those astute/paying attention know it is PRECISELY this failure that sees Teslas continuing to SLAM into various and sundry Emergency Vehicles. yeah like Police and Fire personnel standing roadside are supposed to accept "additional risk" for the glory/fame of one man's EGO (ref Elon). #NOTGONNAHAPPEN
@@phillyphil1513 Are you THIS passionate about ICE car FIRES after the ACCIDENTS ALSO??? Do you realize how many ICE car fires and accidents driven by HUMANS happen in a DAY, MONTH, YEAR?????????????????????????????????????? Idiot......
@@1flash3571 re: "Do you realize how many ICE car fires and accidents driven by HUMANS happen" yeah but do you realize how many petrochemical blazes (Gas) are readily EXTINGUISHED by trained Firefighters and by consumers using standard ABC bottles bought at the local hardware store...? #DUMBASS
Really? Research how many ICE vehicle recalls and warnings have been issued in the past 10 years for fires. Hint: There's a LOT. Do you still trust those brands? Hypocrisy is real.
@@TheHalothane - Hyundai had the same problem, but they handled it quickly, competently, and effectively. It's exactly what GM should have done. Hell, GM still isn't there in just replacing all affected battery packs.
I turned down a buy back because I love driving my 2019 Bolt too much! I love the original shifter over the push buttons and the styling of the 2019 vs the 2022. And most of all I love the TRUE one-pedal driving! Yey! I'm keeping my beloved Bolt! I have never enjoyed driving as much as I have with my Bolt. so happy to be able to keep it.
Yeap its a nice car I was about to buy one last week buy too bad about battery issues recall and also charging restrictions😞 I will buy a Nissan leaf instead to start my EV journey or mayneba 2014 spark ev
Yep, on the same exact page as you, with one interesting addition. I worked like crazy to get the refreshed BoltEV but simply couldn’t wait 6 months to replace the lease-expired car I was driving. I really wanted the cabin upgrades, particularly the seats. I thought the front fascia upgrade might have nice too. Now, some 10 months later, news of fires and paid garage bans, and videos like this one, am I glad the lease of my 2021 worked out the way it did. It’s so much fun to drive, but doesn’t compromise on its utility as a four-seater, hauler with the rear seats down, and its sensible cabin controls that doesn’t require a learning curve. In spite of some bad news, I haven’t had even one day of regret or buyer’s remorse. I love this car, and wish GM would finally get its shit together on all the counts detailed in this video.
@@TrainsFerriesFeet I kept calling, emailing and taking notes to hold them accountable. The phone of one of the people eventually blocked my number I think 😂 I'm going to post a video on the entire process once I pick up the check. I basically got back the price I paid used.
@@Allan_A I would love to do the same, but their cash repurchase offer for my car, while it would pay off the loan and give me a little cash back, is not nearly enough to cover what I’ve paid for the car over the past 2 years, nor would it put me in a position to buy a comparable replacement vehicle without a substantial increase to my monthly payment. Sucks!
Not many EV enthusiasts. Also it doesn't help that she alienates half the population with left wing politics. Lefties already like EV, it's the untapped right wingers who need to be pulled into EV with how awesome EVs are and not just for climate change death cult reason.
Personally, as a 2017 Bolt owner, I am encouraged by this news. I am not surprised that this was a complicated issue and GM stumbled. Was glad when they did, they decided to halt everything until they were confident in batteries from LG. That was the right thing to do. As a result, I am confident in this news release.
@@clintatk Could be. And that is a perfectly acceptable position for you to choose. I am not in that situation with my Bolt. Yes, GM will lose some customers. But not all, and I think some people will look on this after a while and think, "GM had a messy problem with those LG batteries. They bumbled it a bit, but stuck with it and addressed it." So, my guess is, this won't be a problem for GM... People still buy Fords and VWs.. The public is generally forgiving. Yes, some people leave a vendor, but others join. I think it will be more about what current product do they have. My guess is, once they get to a Silverado EV or something like that, people won't remember about the Bolt...
@@desiv1170 The Bolt will have to prove itself I'm afraid and that will take time. How long is hard to say, but I have little doubt that it will be a lingering setback. Forgetting about the Bolt may be good for GM's health, but not good for the Bolt. 😂 The thing is, the Bolt's problems won't be forgotten.
We love our 2020 Bolt EV. We just completed a 5400 mile road trip in ours. I'm with you on the experience. This is the second car I've ever bought that I've been as strongly in love with long after the purchase was over, my other one being my 2015 Chevy Colorado Z71 Trail Boss. Granted, I haven't been dragged along as much as the '17 to '19 owners, but I just cannot fathom getting rid of it. It makes me smile. It's cheaper than dirt to run, is fun to drive, and the Oasis Blue gets endless compliments. I'm hopeful that the issue has been fixed, and will patiently wait my turn to get ours checked and or replaced. I'd buy another post recall given the extra attention to the manufacturing process by force to ensure a properly constructed battery. I can't help but think that people are reacting as if this was a broken/missing bolt type of defect that could be quickly identified and fixed. Time has to be given to identify what was the cause, determine what needed to be done (my guess here is that the misaligned robot was probably not off enough to be visually detectable, but enough so to damage batteries during production), fix the issue, test, and repeat as necessary to fix the problem, and then figure out a way to boost production enough to not only replace defective batteries, but resume production. Now we just have to be patient enough to let them build the stock, and start making replacements. Those like me with a 2020, will probably be near the end of the line for this repair. In the meantime, they had to make their announcements as to fail do to so, would have left them liable for far more than what they are up to now. So, yeah, all the releases, cautions, crazy instructions while maddening, are a thing they had to do. Remember Lee Iacocca and the Pinto for how that worked for Ford.
wolfman9999999 Good for you. It works ok for me to have lower limit of 70 miles. I rarely go below 100. I can accept a top end of less than 90'per cent even on a long trip because of the fabulous efficiency of my Bolt. An engineer said there was AI in the controller to program itself to the way you drive and charge.. I consistently get 280 miles at 90 per cent. Maybe that is why.
I’m in the same position as you. I love my Bolt, more than I like my Tesla, but this whole experience has significantly damaged GM’s trustworthiness. I’ve been going back and forth with my repurchase coordinator since GM suggested not to park in public garages (except for open top floors) and not park within 50ft of a car or building. 50ft from my house is 2/3 of the way across the street, which is then less than 50ft from my neighbor’s house. There is nowhere in my entire development where I could park 50ft away from a structure, let alone another car. I’m trying to get GM to improve the cash repurchase offer they made on my car to a point that would allow me to purchase a comparable EV without an increase in monthly payment. So far, no go, but I’m going to keep working on them. I also asked to see if getting the battery replaced on my 2019 Bolt would impact the trade repurchase deal that I’ve accepted (just waiting for the car to be built), so we’ll see what he says there too. Also, just FYI, I spoke to my insurance agent, who spoke with the higher ups at my insurance company (State Farm) and according to him, they know about the fire issues with the Bolts, but because it is only happening very rarely, it has no impact on your coverage if something does happen. My agent said that if the car burns, the vehicle comprehensive coverage will cover the damage. If it burns my house, my homeowners policy will cover it. The tricky part is if it burns and damages other property that I don’t own, it would be covered under the liability insurance, which tends to not have super high limits. That could be an issue if say, the car catches fire and burns someone else’s house down, or a parking garage, or multiple other expensive cars, so my agent did suggest potentially increasing my liability coverage until it’s fixed. That being said, while it’s hopefully good that GM will start replacing the batteries with good ones soon, this is FAR from over. Even if LG can produce the batteries in a timely manner and GM can figure out the logistics of shipping 140,000 1000lb hazardous materials boxes around the country in a timely manner (both are extremely unlikely) there is a HUGE shortage of technicians who can work on cars in general, let alone those who are certified by GM to work on Bolts. A lot of mechanics I’ve worked with in the past are afraid of even lower voltage hybrids and don’t want to touch the HV systems. Replacing all the batteries even in just the 2017-2019 Bolts, even if they are replacing the complete battery assembly and not disassembling the pack to replace the individual modules/rows, I suspect this will take YEARS just on the dealership replacement labor alone. I don’t know how many Bolt-certified techs that GM has in the US, but I’m guess it’s probably not more than 5000 (it’s probably much, much less than that in reality, possibly a good question for TE to ask their GM contact), but even if they have 5000 Bolt certified techs, that means that each of those techs will have to replace 28 batteries each. In reality, I’d suspect there are less than 1000 Bolt certified techs in the US. Edit: there’s only about 4200 Chevy dealers in the US, and not every Chevy dealer has a Bolt certified tech (especially in areas where EVs are basically non-existent) so yeah, probably much less than 5000 Bolt techs out there.
They also have the factory workers that assemble and install the packs originally, who obviously aren't building new Bolts at the moment. Plus they have the buy back Bolts, GM could pull the batteries out of them to rebuild and loan to dealers as spares to swap into customer cars, so the cars spend less time in the shop.
Well I am a happy Bolt owner (actually European Opel Ampera-e), I have one of the first 2017 models with 100.000km on it. The batteries are still at 98% capacity, really good, better than what I hear from the Teslas, even though they are good. Now I am getting a 10% increase in range, better charging, and another 8 years and 160.000km warranty. I don't see any issue in using this car for another 10 or 15 years this way.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
Probably not replaced. Those batteries are only just arriving now in some places... I'm going to trade in my Kona for an ID4 AWD, but I'm going to be sure to get any outstanding warranty issues (namely the battery) resolved first, don't want the dealership to be dumping a lemon/firebomb on an unaware buyer. While the Kona is a very well designed and spec'd car, the number of issues I had was truly outstanding. Battery recall, a misalignment with the motor/transmission, and a leak in the AC system at only 32,000 km. The battery is an understandable mistake, but for the other issues, it's like they've never built a car before. Will not be buying a Hyundai ever again. I would recommend the Kia E-Niro, it's nearly the same car, but it's battery is made by SKI and has not had issues, and the Kia warranty is longer.
My 2019 Kona E had the battery changed this week here in the Saguenay region of Québec. I left the vehicle at the dealership at 1.30pm along with another two having the swop. At 4.05pm the job was efficiently done on all three with no fuss or bother. Top marks Hyundai !
The Bolt is an amazing car with amazing performance, comfort, features, and quality. The evolution of the Bolt from its earlier roots including the Volt is amazing. Everyone has their own reason for purchasing an Electric car. Mine was mainly to stop using ICE vehicles. The Bolt was an incredible value. I purchased a 2020 Bolt, end of year and installed a 12Kw system for my house for less than a Tesla (after rebates and incentives). I’m in it for the long haul. You don’t tiptoe into this kind of technology and start whining. It will all get sorted out and meanwhile I enjoy driving my Bolt everyday. I’ve preordered my Ford F-150 Lightning and the same attitude has to apply. These are new and exciting designs people.
Whining? You think Bolt owners are whining because the car can catch on fire and they've been yanked around by GM? Keep that same attitude with the Ford EV if it also can potentially catch on fire in your garage? You're Fords perfect customer, a masochist.
You make a really good point. I too was able to buy both my Bolt and my solar panels for less than it would have cost to buy a very lightly-optioned Model 3, once tax credits were factored in.
I own a 2020 premier. Love it. I’ve ignored all the recommendations and just plowing on and driving from full to near empty constantly and driving tons of miles. Most reliable car I’ve owned. Look forward to new battery modules if needed and a new warranty. The only change I made at home is I’ve reduced my Juicebox charger to 8 amps for daily charging. At 240V it’s still nearly 1.9kw so usable. Charge to 80% local and will do 100 for long trips. Drive down to the occasional 5% left arriving at DC chargers. Not letting the media stir me into a panic.
The fastest way for GM to fix the problem would be to replace the entire battery and take the old battery to be checked. That way the customer doesn’t need to wait around for the quality control process to be done.
Do you realize that these batteries are not easy to be built? It will take a long time, more than a year for them to replace the batteries. I cant imagine how many were built throughout the years. That is a lot of Cars built...
I appreciate your honesty! I have a 2020, and I feel many of the same feelings. But ultimately, when I look around, there simply isn't an alternative to the Bolt for me. So I will wait and trust and hope GM can fix this properly.
B Fun Different management and different philosophy. GM used their most popular Marque to introduce it. One of the main reasons I took a chance and leased it. 2,000 customers for share-ride agree. The women thought it was cute. I call it white lightnin from the musical Grease for just that reason he he he.
This reminds me a lot of the exploding Galaxy Note saga. The Note brand seemed to recover, so I hope the Bolt brand can too. I was considering trading in my Volt for a Bolt since I want to upgrade to all electric and I really like the smaller footprint. But I can't do that until this whole thing is sorted out.
@@JBoy340a Yeah, but that was after several well selling versions. From my understanding the 20 didn't do too well and they wanted to focus on the Fold instead. Honestly, I don't think anyone considers it in their buying decision at this point.
It’s a great time to buy a preowned Bolt EV. Think about it. You may be able to get a great deal based on the Circumstances. Think about how many Bolts caught on fire compared to how many are actually on the road the percentage is minimal and now you’re going to get a new battery that’s a win-win.
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
Sorry to hear for all the bolt owners. I got my first introduction to EVs with a Chevy Volt gen2. it was literally my favorite car after owning at least 6 other cars in my life! Really loved it. It had one issue which was the AC but replaced under warranty. But in 2018, got my tesla model 3 and never looked back. Also, GM killed the Chevy Volt for some reason. honestly, you have to wonder if GM is really cut out for the EV revolution. This may be spark that starts the road to GM going bankrupt again and this time disappearing (or being absorbed by Ford another legacy automaker)
These Legacy Automakers still don't seem to get it. They are like a dumb friend who is being low key picked on and he still doesn't get it. He acts as if nothing is wrong. Tesla, while not a perfect company seems to always try to improve their cars and they have no bean counters. Sure they want to save money, but not at the expense of the customer's safety, or the part's life span. I can imagine their third generation part will last a loooooong time.
I would be APOPLECTIC!! I haven't owned a GM product of any kind in decades and I sure as heck won't ever own one again. I looked at a Bolt EV for about 15 minutes and then I bought the least expensive Tesla, a Model 3 SR+.
For context, I've had Model S, MR Model 3, LR Model 3 and Kia Soul EV(which convinced me to never purchase any EV except Tesla). Just got the Tesla 3 SR+ for the wife and that Tesla 3 SR+ is an unbeatable value and an amazing car. My neighbor also just bought SR+ and another friend bought Bolt. Guess which is euphoric and which is depressed? Just buy the Tesla EV people!
@@hotlobstahvids it depends on the use case. The MY I have coming in a few weeks is unlikely to do as well as my Bolt for food deliveries with constant U turns, tight parking spaces & darting through traffic.
My 2019 Model 3 SR+ was priced less than the Bolt EVs on the dealer lots. I reasoned that I was getting more for less. No regrets whatsoever and no maintenance besides a free FSD computer upgrade, filling the wiper fluid, and recently putting air in the tires (they kept up to pressure for 2 years!).
So every time Nissans shitty thermal management has destroyed your battery you just get another one, which also has not fixed the issue? But when GM struggles you would never buy something from them again? Weird behavior.
Funny, I’d never consider a Leaf given that it took them well over a decade to fix their battery screw ups, and they didn’t even apply that fix to the affected cars (just made a new one, that isn’t available yet)
80,000 miles in Leafs. The anti-Nissan cultists don't even realize that the main problem with 2018+ Leafs is the software, not the battery overheating. Car can suddenly lose power without warning (while passing uphill, for example) or jam brakes on suddenly at hwy speeds because it thinks bridge girders are a car in front. Long live the 30kWh pack Leafs - best of the lot!
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 Tesla = Leadership
If there is any shortage of batteries, then GM should not use any batteries for producing new cars until all the existing Bolts have been given new batteries.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
"LG has increased it's production volume" is a weird claim, because as far as I can tell, every EV battery manufacturer has been using every bit of their capacity for years. And sure, they keep increasing that capacity every year, but I doubt LGE would be able to just magically create new capacity because of this issue. It takes a long time to bring new capacity online, doesn't it?
I like the looks and specs of the bolt, but have never driven. I consider it, but opted for a tesla sr+ in 2019, very happy about that right now. Also have a 2017 leaf, very happy with itt except for the range....
I'm 74 Y.O. and have owned many cars. A lot of them were GM before the Japanese wave. The last GM was a 2000 Olds rust bucket. I won't spend a dime on another GM P.O.S., ICE or BEV. Love our Tesla Model S!!!
Have you heard anything about the Kona recall recently? Has it been smooth and how fast is it moving? I feel like that could give us some indication for how quickly LG will produce new modules for the Bolt.
The short answer is I LOVE my Bolt EV. So getting a new battery will give me MANY more years in a great car I enjoy regardless of my feelings on GM. I'm keeping MY car.
You really don't have a choice unless GM buys back your car at MSRP price minus the usage.......Other car buyers will not trust the car even with the new battery installed.....
@@1flash3571 wait a few years for the Mach-e and other LG cars to catch fire. I think plenty of people will want a Bolt, especially if the problem is actually fixed. -I don’t think we can have a high level of confidence until the new batteries are more than 3 years old.
@@brendykes6599 Nahh...I'll just stick with Tesla. They don't play games like this with their parts. They know their batteries, and their parts. They don't use Bean Counters to make the parts. Sure, they try to save money on parts, but they don't sacrifice their safety with lesser parts. They are always trying to make their parts BETTER, not lesser. I will take the bad with the good from Tesla over any other car manufacturer.
@@brendykes6599 That is THE TYPICAL WAY for Manufactures OPERATES. More parts there are, more bean counting is involved. I don't know what reality you live in.
Your description of the smile on your face after driving your Bolt is exactly the same as the one I get after each time I drive my EB, only mine hasn't had fires-- yet. I drive a Nissan Leaf Plus, the one with the 60 KWH battery pack and no mechanical battery temp control. The range is starting to read lower with lowering temperatures here in NH, but today I was greeted with a cherry 256 miles, which I could count on at least till I had to turn on the headlights. To further increase my driving pleasure I have volunteered to drive folks in need of transportation to medical appointments. My car is often part of the conversation on the trip to the doctor. Try one if the Bolt doesn't work out! Frank
I just got mine in March, and I've been meaning to try and get a buyback from Chevy, but I keep dragging my feet because it's my first EV, my first ever brand new car, it's in the gorgeous ocean blue, and I kinda love it so much and I don't want to go back to my old ice car 😢
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
Great summary. After all the bad news and press about the Bolt EV fires and subsequent recalls and poor handling by GM, the big question now for GM is, will the public trust buying a Bolt EV or EUV again? Especially since the Bolt name is now synonymous with fires. I asked my partner if he would be willing to buy a new Bolt EUV when production starts again, he said in a loud voice, "Absolutely not!" "After all the inconvience of software updates, battery replacement, not being able to use the Bolt for a total of about 3 weeks, reduced range, etc., no way." Well, I guess there was my answer. That combined with our inability to reserve a Lyriq (only 1500 total cars) being filled within 2 minutes (not 10) it really turned us off to GM. GM's Electric future is in grave danger. FYI - We loved the Bolt EV too, except for the seats which the Bolt EUV solved, too bad.
Food for thought Nikki. . .100% agree regarding my love for our 2019, but I am rethinking having it parked in the garage attached to the house. I received the letter from Chevrolet Canada this week promising notification when the, ahem, replacement parts, become available.
We got to be patient kona went through the same process and we don't hear any more bad press. They sold 80,000 konas vs the bolt that sold almost twice the kona electric. And at the end of the day I trust my bolt ev, it will strengthen my confidence in my car. It's a great car I love it and fits my needs in every way.
I completely agree. Our 2019 Bolt had been terrific for our needs. We don’t commute any longer so small tip ups will work for us until replacement batteries are available.
This recall has been a total nightmare honestly. We picked up a 2019 Bolt LT last weekend, thankfully its battery recall had been done beforehand. (According to the car dealer I got it from, the state of California wouldnt even allow them to be sold unless it was done) We had been waiting for almost a year prior for a 2018 Bolt LT (and it had been sitting there for 9 months prior to us reserving it in September 2021 waiting for a new battery I later found out) and this lot had 6 other Bolts between 2018 and 2022 waiting for batteries. during that year we had waited, GM had only sent them 1 battery for the 2022 model as the car was new.
Will be interesting to see how many "fixed" Bolts hit the used market, and what prices they'll fetch. On the one hand, folks might see them as an attractive, lower cost option than a new EV. On the other hand, they may have watched your video.
I bought a used 2017 Bolt Lt. last week. Got it for 15,200. Out of Houston. I drove it all over Central Texas fast charging here and there. It was great fun. Waiting for the car to be shipped back to my home in San Diego. Going to use it in my Electrical contracting business as my work truck. So far so good. Runs like a top. I will redo the seats for comfort. Not too worried about the batteries but will observe the charging restrictions.
The prices I’ve seen are still too high. $22k for a 2017 Bolt? No way I’d pay that price for it. If it were $11k-$14k, then we can talk, but at that $22k price point, I’d just buy a used ICE car that has better tech, performance, convenience, and at around a quarter of that price. But I won’t do that. I’m going to continue saving for a truly compelling EV like the Model 3 or Ioniq 5. The EV point of sale rebate is coming, which will make both of those cars closer to the $30k mark.
I fear the rush to ramp up batteries for increasing demand for EV's may result in similar fire prone issues. GM's issues with modules/software aren't going to be the only ones EV manufactures have. With competition for battery performance and competition for battery fabrication/manufacture increasing, there may have to be regulation set in place to ensure adequate design, manufacturing and testing to ensure protection for consumers, as well as the bottom line for the company selling them. As usual, wonderful, balanced presentation Nikki & Team !
Haven’t really ever been worried. 13 fires in 144,000. Average of 152,000 cars catch on fire each year out of 19 million. Glad to get a new battery! 123,000 miles on my bolt so it should be like getting a new car! Glad to be getting the “bigger “‘battery packs as well. They handled this poorly but like what car company has ever handled any of this big recalls well?? None.
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
I was pretty much sold on the Bolt. Then the fires came along. I was not really concerned about these fires because of the very low percentage of cars that were affected. But as time went on I became more and more concerned about the mother-ship's reaction to the fires. It was horrendous, as described in this video. I ordered a Tesla Model Y in late July. I am so glad I did! Who killed Chevrolet's second EV? They did it again!
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉
Nikki, once you get the battery replacement and things have settled in, can you do a review video of the car? Sounds like your likes and dislikes would make for an interesting used car review. At some point, people will be mulling over second hand bolt options. Keep up the good work. Info on long term living with a car can be fascinating.
@@vidznstuff1 but will a new power pack, Artimus lives again. The ride, power delivery could all feel different. One more video won't hurt. If other auto makers want to be on the channel more, they need to ship some press cars to origon and I am sure they will be featured too.
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
I'm just happy to see them cover that many vehicles in this recall. They're taking initiative that I'm happy to see. I'm a little closer to that car than you think.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
If even one of these 'new' packs does it again, game over. You can't help suspecting some of the old packs are going to be tested and then just put back in.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
I own my Chevy bolt outright the first car that I did not trade in on a new one as soon as I paid off the old one. I am keeping my Bolt, I have no desire to have a new car payment. The odds are very low that my car would catch on fire. I also use Torque, so I know the voltage spread between the highest and the lowest cell in the pack. I keep in close communication with my dealer, and I feel very comfortable, that I have taken all the recommended precautions, so I drive my car where I want to, when I want to, and do not really worry about it.
I feel kind of bad in retrospect, I turned in my 2017 Bolt when the lease ended and bought a new 2020 instead of buying out my lease because at that time 2020s weren't part of the recall. Assuming my 2017 didn't catch fire at any point I'd have saved a lot of money and gotten a brand new upgraded battery anyway.
I gave up on Chrysler and General Motors a long time ago. Actually last week I ordered my first Tesla the Model Y for many reasons but mostly for dog mode believe it or not. Good luck with your Bolt and GM.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 Tesla = Leadership
60K miles and you all ready had a substantial list of issues prior to buy out. Why would you continue with the platform? That end of lease gave you the perfect reason to walk away.
She said the problems were fixed by the company. As long as the company fixes them under warranty and is good, I don't see why there is a problem afterwards on this one and on any other cars. Also, her lease was up BEFORE the issue at hand. It seems like she does love the Bolt. She also don't have much choice in the matter unless she don't mind losing a significant amount of money trying to sell it. Even with the new battery, other buyers will not trust it for the most part.
@@1flash3571 If a car breaks down 6 times over the 3 year lease. Requiring dealer visits, you are ok with that? That a sign that there are major problems with the vehicle. Not something you would even think of keeping. No matter how "cute" it is.
We won't know for sure how good the replacement batteries will actually be until 3-4 years down the road when they've had as many miles driven as the old problematic packs have today.
The know what the manufacturing defect is. "We", being YOUR arrogant ass, not knowing if it's fixed doesn't matter - at all. Do you really thing GM would expose itself to another $2B in recalls? $10B as it ramps towards full EV?
@@vidznstuff1 They certainly didn't plan to expose themselves to this $2B risk either. VW didn't mean to be caught with diesel-gate either, but they still did it.
Even when I think they don't really know what is causing the fires, If they did, solving the problem shouldn't be an economic disaster at all. They even could end wining money. There is very little battery supply for massive grid batteries. But, if you end up having 60K 64MWh packs... that is almost 4 GWh in batteries for grids? See that those batteries are perfectly usable in big project grid systems. It is not a problem that some of them can catch fire when you put them in racks at the exterior. That is a huge gift for those who can catch the wave. LG, Hyundai or GM can create technology that nobody but Tesla have. And if they have more batteries at their disposal than Tesla, they can end leading the industry by a big margin.
I owned a 2020 Bolt and decided to sell it to CarMax a few weeks ago and moved on to a Tesla model 3 after my experience with the VW diesel gate issues 5 years ago and that buyback fiasco. I loved my Bolt but my experience with GM service department on another 2017 I owned was appalling, so I bailed . I hope the new batteries fix the issues because it is such a great car, but I agree with you with the distrust that Gm has caused with there behavior over the past 12 months on 17-19 Models. Will Gm ever learn that service after the sale is more important than actually the sale?
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 Tesla = Leadership
Tesla's cylindrical cell maybe harder to manufacture than GM's prismatic cells, but it has a few crucial advantages: 1) Since cooling tubes run around each cell, its battery core temperature never gets too hot. 2) A cylindrical case prevents thermal expansion (prevents damage). 3) Each cell has its own fuse. 4) Battery flaws are easily detected through voltage differences.
Love the show. Thank you! Welcome to life with GM. Grew up in Metro Detroit, now in Buick/Olds Hometown, Lansing. So many closed plants, shut down suppliers, and broken dreams. I can ride my e-bike past the shuttered Oldsmobile HQ building. I've been seeing Chevys break down my whole life. I am glad to hear the Bolt is fun to drive and a great vehicle. Godspeed to repairs and more and better battery packs. I wish GM had kept Saturn & Pontiac, their two most well-liked brands. Maybe those brands would have tried to develop EV with the bailout of 2009, which should have been a government mandate.
Funny thing is that I did want a Bolt. But I got a Leaf Plus. It's a really great car. Only thing is that the future charges via DC rapid is in question. But I feel that someone will make an adapter for CCS . But for now I am doing good 👍. Good luck with your Bolt. I'm am sure that some time in the next year or two. We will get the ID.3 in the states.
“…and a lot less flammability…” Love it! It’s a sticky situation for any company that experiences a product crisis. Even if the new batteries are the final remedy, how will GM gain back the confidence of it’s EV customers? Generosity never hurts brand image.
I wonder if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
9:05 "last week GM told owners they should park on the top level of parking garages". They did no such thing. There was a Reuters article stating allegations they were told this, but as an owner, I never got such messaging from GM.
You've gotten messages from GM? That's nice. I've only been told to nerf my car and then to not use it. Oh, they did say when I requested a loaner that I couldn't have one and that I couldn't park my IED atone of their lot due to the fire hazard, but parking it next to my kid's bedroom is cool.
No - there was one letter. Speaking through the press is nonsense and is merely jury poisoning by GM lawyers. "Look, we warned the public, so this lawsuit for the torched municipal garage has to be dismissed." It's GM lawyers that have screwed this up at every turn, imo, and GM's marketing department has always been total crap and spineless. Dismiss the lawyers and get back to servicing customers.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
Hyundai Kona EV is close enough to Bolt in terms of size. Hyundai got it on to battery replacement much quicker than Chevy while Chevy is still dancing around with "module replacement as needed" lingo. Trust is gone.
This was brilliant timing, as I have been shopping for a used Bolt this past week, when a little voice in the back of my head said "lets go see what Nikki's has to say." So glad I did! So disappointed in this state of affairs, since finding an affordable EV that's bigger than a golf cart( my current Fiat 500E) and that is also liquid cooled( not looking at you, Nissan Leaf). So when are the vaunted cheap EV's from China arriving? Big sigh.
So from the announcement what has changed for owners who need the range and need a reliable car? Not much. GM has over promised and under delivered so often during this event that its impossible to trust them. All we know for certain is they started making batteries again.
Doesn’t GM have a moral duty to explain what went wrong with the battery manufacturing ? Other manufacturers should know not to make the same mistakes. Lives may be lost if lessons are not learned and shared .
As regards abandoning a manufacturer who's had an issue like this, is it better to have had a problem, investigated and (presumably) fixed it, or never had a problem in the first place? Have the other manufacturers just been lucky so far?
Maybe stupidly I believe GM will get a grip + resolution to this issue. I am fortunate that my Bolt is modestly used as a short distance commuting vehicle. I use a clean diesel 2.8L Colorado for hauling and long road trips. Further backup is a 125cc Honda Super Cub. I use the Bolt at every opportunity to keep our air clean. Very fun automobile.
Here in Vermont, my local dealer offered me $11,500 as trade-in (2017, 30k miles), just a few days before the new models were added to the recall and the stop-sale order went out. I filed for a buy-back, which GM accepted and then said, don't call us, we'll call you. I have now filed a lemon law claim, the first owner to do so in Vermont. Once the hearing is scheduled, I'm told that GM usually then settles. And then it happened... The day after my lemon law clam was accepted and a hearing was scheduled, I received a settlement offer from GM. I just received and accepted the final settlement agreement for the full value that would have been allowed by the Vermont claim, $29,219.85. I lost $11,713.15 due to the mileage allowance which is reasonable. I love the Bolt and I wouldn't rule out owning one again in a year or two. I was hoping the Subaru Solterra would be more impressive, something more than just adding AWD. But that is what I want/need here in Vermont.
I have a late model year 2019 with about 19,000 mi on it, and finally called the dealership on March 15th, several weeks ago... This car was not included in the original recall, like 2020 and newer Bolts, so I was not super fussed about getting a battery replacement immediately. As it turns out, the local dealership has had a lot of trouble actually getting customers to show up for their battery swap appointments, so they were sitting on at least one extra battery. The long and short of it is that 3 days later I was driving off the dealership lot with the new battery installed . I'm thrilled with the new battery and additional range, and being able to set the charge limits higher, once again. Interesting side note, following the full charge at the dealership, and two subsequent full charges; the new software installed on my Bolt seems to allow for regenerative braking immediately when shifted into"L" single pedal mode, rather than what I had experienced in the past which was closer to being in "D" mode and coasting. It is slightly less aggressive braking for the first 2-7 miles, and using the paddle brake as a regenerative braking "doubler" seems to start working *fully* shortly afterward. Range stated by the battery guesstimator was around 304 mi, with a maximum of 359, and a minimum of 249. So far there has been no major recalibration following a full charge; it seems to keep pretty close to those numbers. Time will tell. New, the 2019 Bolt was supposed to go up to 239 miles, and the new battery should technically have only added about another 30 (269) miles to the range. I have never gone more than about 205 mi on a charge to begin with, driving in the real world.
As a 2019 Nissan Leaf owner who looks longingly at the Bolt, especially at the EUV, this is exactly the briefing I need and want. At some point, we will get a longer range EV, but want a car with the characteristics mentioned here: Torque, ride, reasonable space, and achievable price. The fact that its made by card-carrying members of the UAW helps. Of course, having it not catch fire is a good feature, too.
GM is doing just about every ‘two-step’ in words to sound knowledgeable, and now they are on course to fix it, eh? Yes it does sound like marketing. On Ultium, how the bleep does GM know that the way Ultium is produced is NOW not also in need of a full manufacturing process rework (all the Lyriq’s sold out in minutes ……). Thank you for questioning, ‘Does GM REALLY know the FULL cause, and therefore REALLY have a FULL fix???? I doubt it too. Yes, they ARE going faster than what they really know about the problem. Good God. You are right on the mark with all of the points. Gotta trust your gut.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉
Hey Nikki , it’s sad to see your passion for your car fail you and make you lose your massive grin ! It would be hard for the affected people , like you and hundreds of thousands of owners , to trust the companies involved . I wish there to be an end to this quickly for all you bolt owners . I wish we had a similar car here in Australia ( minus fires 🔥) I guess the Kona ev here is affected as I see a few here in Brisbane QLD but at $62k you would have to be mad , good luck to all and fingers crossed for a safe transition in or out of your Bolts !
I have a 2016 volt and have had it for about 1.5 years. Now I'm starting to have problems and it's getting close to the end of the warranties....so...i want an ev car but....this one is already starting to shut down and bolts are catching fire where does that leave me 😒
As Yul Brinner says BUT ''tis a puzzlement. Seriously I feel the same way I love my Bolt! I love taking on the souped up hondas etc. and leaving them in my rear view mirror. I love owning the fast lane! I have a permanent grin. I even do very well and see surprised faces up against crotch rockets! I think GM should replace the whole pack with an Ultium battery.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
Traded my 2019 Bolt EV last weekend. Decided that I was not going to wait for GM and I just do not think the can fix the issues and replace all the batteries without further issues arising. Took about a $3000 loss on the trade in. Loved the Bolt but no more GM for me. Hopefully the 2022 Kia Niro EV will prove to be a reliable vehicle that will not burn the house down. Fingers crossed.
I can say that we love our '19 Kia Niro EV. The worst thing that's happened in 23k miles is that the clip on the sun visor broke. Which was replaced under warranty. ^Kate
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge 😉 🤭
I think the best thing GM could do would be to replace the NCM chemistry with LFP cells that don’t have a fire risk, but that wouldn’t happen in a short enough timeframe. At least with Tesla the LFP batteries lose about 10 miles from the NCM batteries, but can last far longer and charge more, plus the never catch on fire part. Perfect for a 250 mile range car
@@carnutal3627 NCM batteries are the type of lithium battery mostly used because it is the most power dense. It uses Nickel, Cobalt and Manganese in the Cathode, or Anode. Many companies from Sony to Samsung to Boeing and LG have found out the hard way that the smallest imperfections in manufacturing will cause fires. LFP is a less dense and much cheaper lithium battery made with Iron Phosphate that actually has a longer life. It is still under patent until 2022 except in China that somehow has an exemption, so most shorter range cars in China have them while longer range will have the NCM to save weight. The Chinese battery manufacturers are able to build them around $60/kWH at the cell, while NCM batteries are still over $100/kWH. Tesla just started offering buyers in the US the choice of LFP for Model 3 SR+ in Q4, or wait until next year for the same car with the NCM batteries with a 10 mile range difference of 263 for NCM, or 253 for LFP because they are at the limit of making batteries in the US factory and can make more at their Chinese factory. LFP batteries are popular with RV and boat people from different manufacturers. I have Battle Born brand in my RV, but they call them LifePo4. That is Lithium Ferrous Phosphate and basically the same as LFP
Going into a Maine winter. Sure I'll just park outside my garage. I don't want to go back to gas but this isn't working in a couple of ways. G.M. did it to me again.
This is frustrating for all EV enthusiasts. A used Bolt was my go to recommendation for anyone who was interested in a longer range EV that was affordable. I can't in good conscience do that now...which doesn't leave a whole lot of other options.
My wife and I recently lost our 2015 LEAF in an accident. We were hoping to upgrade to a longer range EV. But the Bolt (2017-2019) are the only available in our price range. This recall scares us. I'd like an E-NIRO but even used I'm looking at 25-30,000. That's a good 8,000 above our budget. Even considered going back to an older LEAF but the range turns me off and the thermal management (lack thereof) system. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'm wondering if the analyst realise how hot GM EV'S are right now. They are really on fire, they love them so much, they stay up all night to watch them charge.
please answer: I'm in dire need of an ev as I cannot afford these high gas prices. will buying a new 2023 bolt ev, have no issues of catching on fire? thanks.
You will lose money if you try to sell it though, even with the new battery installed. Other car buyers won't trust it due to it having a bad press, and news about battery burning up.
@@chriswalker1993 Yeah...Car prices for both the new and the used ones are getting crazy high. At least now you have a choice now. Hope you get the higher price since the used car market is going crazy right now. Hope you can negotiate for the new price.
