[OneEV]

So that means USA production of Batteries have the same issue...



Again.. Ultium plant is **** near ready... Barra was there last week in Lordstown

I mean really what else can they do ...they cant even put American 66kW version in the Bolts now

 

[sparks]

Just in....Biden withdraws from GM/UAW defense agreement. Says, "We are turning control of the auto industry over to Elon Musk, our benevolent overlord."

As well he should. The Emperor of Mars doesn't play.

Much

 

[msavides]

perhaps an additional reason for GM to halt the bolt and EUV production.

Wonder if they will also stop dealers from selling any on the lots as well.

 

[Pod]

Because the 2020 Bolt burned, and maybe because of the ID3 too. LG, and the entire legacy auto industry may have a problem...Houston.

What happened with the ID3?

 

[Zenman1]

They just need to cut everyone a check at this point and get them all back in their hands. Then fix them when they figure things out. I can’t imagine them telling us to use 60% of range or so for however many months/years it takes to identify and fix the issue, manufacture new cells, and then install them. I honestly don’t think they can fix this without just giving us our money back at this point.

 

[Bobcat13]

Just when I thought I had gotten lucky with my 2020. My only concern is with getting a loaner from my dealer, which have been few and far between with the chip shortage.

But, are there any restrictions on how long before you have to take it in? IMO, this seems a bit like overkill given the number of those that have actually caught fire (have there even been any 2020+?). GM is probably just trying to play it safe and avoid an even worse PR nightmare. If that’s the case, me thinks I’ll wait until 100k miles or so to take it in 😆

 

[SteveCaz]

What happened with the ID3?

Volkswagen ID.3 Bursts Into Flames In The Netherlands

This Volkswagen ID.3 burst into flames after a woman from the Dutch city of Groningen disconnected it from the curbside charger.

insideevs.com

 

[sparks]

I just bought my 2022 EV a little over a month ago. Wondering if Washington Lemon Law could get me a buyback since there's no way in heck that the issue will be fixed in 30 days. At this point I'd prefer it, and to move into something else. LOVE The 22 Bolt- but NOT loving the situation. At all.

I hereby go on record to state
I love my Bolt
I love gm
I love my battery
I love where I park
I love barely charging
My dealer is a step below ok

Now can I get a good place in line for a brand new shiny new Cruz or Trax or ah torrential or your land stomper?
gm you do still sell those?
No?

 

[elite88]

We heard that they were staffing-up the LG battery plant for 7-day operation. But if 2022 packs had defects, this sounds like they will need to stop the line and change... something. Probably something more than "sit somebody down on this stool to watch that machine there for folded/torn stuff." More like: replace the "LG separator shredding machine"(patent pending) with a table.

That could mean:

• new battery production stops for several months while battery production is fixed
• no new Bolts are assembled (there's no point)

Once the battery production restarts, priority goes to recalls. With 100k recalled Bolts (GoodCarBadCar says 99,356 plus this month), and 1000 EV-certified Chevy dealers, if each dealer does 5 per week, that could consume up to 5000 packs per week. So dealers are not the bottleneck.

The plant has been making 3800 or so per month on a 5-day week. With a 7-day week, they can do at-least 1228 per week. At that rate, it would take 1 year 7 months to produce enough packs for the recall. It would be difficult for GM to put those into new Bolts, while owners wait for their car to possibly burn.

Add-in a few months to fix the battery production, and it could be July of 2023 before GM can produce another new Bolt/EUV. With the move to Ultium coming, is GM going to restart Bolt production in 2023? I'm sure they were looking at an Ultium-based Trax-like thing by 2025 anyways.

 

[sparks]

Soo they are going to replace these LG modules with...more LG modules?

Ah um well YUP

 

[OneEV]

 

[MisterJJ]

Woohoo!

Reason to ask for a buyback!

 

[Godspeed]

How does keeping the battery below 90% charge and above 70 miles range fix the manufacturing defect mentioned in the GM Press release?
"In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects – a torn anode tab and folded separator – present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire."

 

[sparks]

Just when I thought I had gotten lucky with my 2020. My only concern is with getting a loaner from my dealer, which have been few and far between with the chip shortage.

But, are there any restrictions on how long before you have to take it in? IMO, this seems a bit like overkill given the number of those that have actually caught fire (have there even been any 2020+?). GM is probably just trying to play it safe and avoid an even worse PR nightmare. If that’s the case, me thinks I’ll wait until 100k miles or so to take it in 😆

What you first said: no luck for us here, no more, no way.
It is a dark day in Ole Detroit town today my friends

 

[p7wang]

How does keeping the battery below 90% charge and above 70 miles range fix the manufacturing defect mentioned in the GM Press release?
"In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects – a torn anode tab and folded separator – present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire."

Mechanical stress from the pouch expanding and contracting.

 

[msavides]

We heard that they were staffing-up the LG battery plant for 7-day operation. But if 2022 packs had defects, this sounds like they will need to stop the line and change... something. Probably something more than "sit somebody down on this stool to watch that machine there for folded/torn stuff." More like: replace the machines that are folding/ & tearing tabs & anodes. That could mean the "881 letter" recipients will not get their new pack any time soon. Also GM will pause production of all Bolts/EUVs (there's no point in assembling one now). In fact, it would be difficult for GM to sell a future Bolt with a pack that could have gone to a safety recall. If the recall is going to monopolize pack production for 4 years, then GM might just kill the Bolt/EUV. I'm sure they were looking at an Ultium-based Trax-like thing by 2025 anyways.

This could be as simple and slowing down the manufacturing line. I am sure they were pushing the system to produce as many as possible. folding and tearing can be caused by running the machine too fast. should also put some more people on QA of the assembly line.

I imagine they probably knew about these defects weeks ago and should already have corrected the battery assembly and QA process. At least I should hope so.

 

[n1acguy]

I have come to the conclusion that LG is the Takata of batteries. How many of those Takata air bags are in Japanese cars as we speak, with no replacements available? How many have had similar problems with the early recall replacements?
The good news is that those air bags don't seem to burn your car up, although they might explode on you as you're driving down the road

 

[sparks]

Woohoo!

Reason to ask for a buyback!

Ask away , don't believe gm wants em

 

[p7wang]

Time to rack up some serious miles on the Bolt before they replace the battery.

 

[MichBolt]

Yeah, but trust us guys - we got it right this time. Yeah, I know about the last time - but trust us, we mean it for real this time.

I'm thinking it's a fundamental design/architecture issue. Before we get good batts.... They are gonna have to redesign.... That's gonna take a while.

...I mean really what else can they do ...they cant even put American 66kW version in the Bolts now

To be fair, they've finally disclosed what the 2 defects are - a torn anode and a folded separator. I don't see any way to diagnose that at the dealership. That can only be detected at the factory through QA / QC processes. So replacing all battery modules make sense, once those QA / QC processes are in place.

Having said that, I still think the Bolt nameplate is done. There's no way to live down the fact that every single Bolt has been recalled for this.

Edit:

I wonder if Mach-E's and VWs will also have to go through a recall like Hyundai Kona's did due to LG Chem batteries and this issue.

Possibly. If their cell manufacturing process wasn't looking for the torn anode / folded separator defects before those vehicles were sold, they might have to recall existing Mach-E's and VW's to get new battery modules as well.

How does keeping the battery below 90% charge and above 70 miles range fix the manufacturing defect mentioned in the GM Press release?
"In rare circumstances, the batteries supplied to GM for these vehicles may have two manufacturing defects – a torn anode tab and folded separator – present in the same battery cell, which increases the risk of fire."

The defect itself doesn't automatically result in a fire. The high charging / deep discharging patterns in the presence of the defect make conditions worse inside the cell (probably dendrite formation), which increase the risk of a fire. So limiting your top target charge, and limiting how deep you discharge, will not guarantee protection from a fire, but it will reduce your risk. The vast majority of fires have had either the high charge / or deep discharge pattern, or both.