[Catharus]

My 2017 is in Virginia where we get temps periodically below 20F/-7C, sometimes briefly much colder. In the past we would just leave the vehicle plugged in all the time when at home in really cold or hot weather, per the manual.

Now we're trying to follow the recall guidance. So interim software plus hilltop reserve, which seems to be about 88-90% for us and only plug in during the day / evening to actively charge, then unplug overnight.

Per the recall guidance we only plug the Bolt in while someone is "watching" and only to keep it in the recommended charge range. And thus not leave it plugged in once charged to the hilltop 90% level regardless of the temperature. I asked the Chevy EV Concierge if the recall instructions overruled the manual's battery conditioning instructions, and they had no idea what I was talking about, but seems like the answer must be yes.

We are headed into some low teens weather. So curious what others have done. It's not a big deal, but with the charge constraints, reduced very cold weather range, no external power for morning battery conditioning, and our extreme conservative-ness in implementing the guidance, we end up with an 80 - 90 mile range.

Russ

 

[Packard V8]

All we can confirm is our 2017 has not had any of the software updates, has been parked in the garage, plugged in, set to Hilltop Reserve, every night for five years. So far, so good.

jack vines

 

[dah]

The November/December software update limits the max charge to 80% and HTR is ~90%, so if you believe GM knows what they're doing 90% is riskier. That software allows you to charge indoors and leave it plugged in all the time - which you can do right now but at 90%.

 

[dborn]

It doesn't matter if you leave it plugged in once the battery is charged. From that point on, it will not continue charging but it will allow keeping it warmed up and will allow you to pre-heat it in the morning. If you don't get the -883 recall software (you should), keep it at Hilltop Reserve so it doesn't go to 100% charge.

 

[GJETSON]

My 2017 is in Virginia

So interim software plus hilltop reserve, which seems to be about 88-90%

only plug in during the day / evening to actively charge, then unplug overnight.

Our 2017 is in central Virginia. We have always charged to hilltop, and leave it plugged in always.

We have the June software patch, which doesn't limit charging at all, but adds a four hour monitoring of cell voltage, and battery module temperature, at the end of every charge. Is that the one you have?

Do you charge outside? Do you move the car outside after charging? Unless you move the car away from flammable structures after you finish charging, unplugging is totally pointless. Being plugged in does not increase the risk of fire. Only charging creates a risk. Once that has finished, the plug has absolutely no influence on fire risk.

 

[Sean Nelson]

All we can confirm is our 2017 has not had any of the software updates, has been parked in the garage, plugged in, set to Hilltop Reserve, every night for five years. So far, so good.

Exactly the same here.

I'll add that as far as I can recall none of the fires seems to have occurred in cold weather.

 

[Pete Blair]

My 2017 is in Virginia where we get temps periodically below 20F/-7C, sometimes briefly much colder. In the past we would just leave the vehicle plugged in all the time when at home in really cold or hot weather, per the manual.

Now we're trying to follow the recall guidance. So interim software plus hilltop reserve, which seems to be about 88-90% for us and only plug in during the day / evening to actively charge, then unplug overnight.

Per the recall guidance we only plug the Bolt in while someone is "watching" and only to keep it in the recommended charge range. And thus not leave it plugged in once charged to the hilltop 90% level regardless of the temperature. I asked the Chevy EV Concierge if the recall instructions overruled the manual's battery conditioning instructions, and they had no idea what I was talking about, but seems like the answer must be yes.

We are headed into some low teens weather. So curious what others have done. It's not a big deal, but with the charge constraints, reduced very cold weather range, no external power for morning battery conditioning, and our extreme conservative-ness in implementing the guidance, we end up with an 80 - 90 mile range.

Russ

I'm in Virginia as well and i've had no issues in this cold weather leaving it unplugged overnight while parked outside. Sucks for the range but since we are getting new batteries I don't really care if it isn't good for the existing one.

 

[Catharus]

We have the June software patch, which doesn't limit charging at all, but adds a four hour monitoring of cell voltage, and battery module temperature, at the end of every charge. Is that the one you have?

... Being plugged in does not increase the risk of fire. Only charging creates a risk. Once that has finished, the plug has absolutely no influence on fire risk.

This and the other replies are helpful. We don't have the 883 patch that limits to 80%, so I guess it is the June time frame patch. I don't recall receiving Chevy communications about the later patch. We have gotten a December letter and phone calls alerting that we can start the replacement battery process (and have of course asked a dealer to request the parts). But no expectation of that being imminent, unlike the cold weather 😕 .

I did not want to lead the witnesses, but it made sense to me that once charging was complete, that the subsequent risk of leaving it plugged in was low. So this confirms that others believe that. We charge outside, but still want to avoid any [risk of] conflagrations.

Is there a link to Chevy saying somewhere that with the 883 patch it's fine to charge overnight and leave in plugged in, indoors or out?

Thanks again all.

 

[Pete Blair]

This and the other replies are helpful. We don't have the 883 patch that limits to 80%, so I guess it is the June time frame patch. I don't recall receiving Chevy communications about the later patch. We have gotten a December letter and phone calls alerting that we can start the replacement battery process (and have of course asked a dealer to request the parts). But no expectation of that being imminent, unlike the cold weather 😕 .

I did not want to lead the witnesses, but it made sense to me that once charging was complete, that the subsequent risk of leaving it plugged in was low. So this confirms that others believe that. We charge outside, but still want to avoid any [risk of] conflagrations.

Is there a link to Chevy saying somewhere that with the 883 patch it's fine to charge overnight and leave in plugged in, indoors or out?

Thanks again all.

It is in the 883 recall notice but you can also see it on the chevy bolt recall website.

Chevy Bolt EV & EUV Recall | Chevrolet

 

[Catharus]

It is in the 883 recall notice but you can also see it on the chevy bolt recall website.

Chevy Bolt EV & EUV Recall | Chevrolet

Thank you so much. Perfect. Until the battery is replaced, this would make life easier.