#Chevy Bolt Owners Might Get a Battery Fix Sooner Than Expected – Review Geek

Chevy Bolt owners are getting some potentially good news today. First, GM confirmed that replacement batteries are back in production and could be available for Chevy Bolt EV owners in October rather than late November. Then, it announced that new diagnostic software would arrive within 60 days.

Earlier this year, GM recalled every Bolt EV model released since 2017 due to at least a dozen fires, halted production, and faced several delays. Just last week, GM announced further delays into October and that they were working closely with LG Chem to fix defects in the battery cells.

All along, the news suggested replacement battery packs would “begin in November,” but that production would be slow, and some owners could be waiting until early 2022 before they get fully working and safe battery packs inside vehicles.

However, According to Reuters, GM and LG have fixed the problem and resumed production on Monday. More importantly, this new announcement claims defect-free batteries will arrive next month, and owners can start getting battery swaps.

GM says that owners of older Bolts (years 2017 to 2019) will have to get full battery module replacements, while newer Bolt EVs will get individual modules replaced.

Additionally, new diagnostic software will be available at dealerships in the coming weeks. This new software will continually scan battery packs for signs of wear or defects. GM suggests users continue to follow its safety guidelines regarding charging to 90-percent, and park at least 50-feet from other vehicles if it detects a defect. However, if the software doesn’t see any issues, it will eventually allow owners to get a full 100-percent charge and loosen some of the restrictions detailed here.

For now, Bolt owners should still follow GM’s guidelines until the software update is available, then be on the lookout for replacement battery packs in October and November.

via The Verge