The Chevy Bolt EV was one of the first electric cars in the US and many people liked it. It was versatile and didn’t cost too much, especially with a $7,500 tax credit. But there were some problems with its battery that caused fires in some cars.
These fires were a big worry. Chevy had to recall some cars and told owners not to park them in garages, just to be safe. Some parking lots even said no to the Bolt EV because they were worried about safety.
The problem was with the battery. There were two issues that could cause fires, so Chevy had to recall lots of cars to fix them. Some got new batteries, and others got software updates to watch the battery and warn if there was a problem.
Now, the Bolt EV isn’t being made anymore, but you might still find some for sale. Chevy has other electric cars like the Blazer EV and Equinox EV if you’re looking for alternatives. But even though the Bolt EV is gone, there are still lawsuits about the battery fires.
Chevy’s parent company, General Motors, and the battery supplier, LG Energy Solution, want to settle these lawsuits. They’re offering $150 million to owners of Bolt EVs made from 2017 to 2022. If you got a new battery or the software update, you could get $700 or $1,400.
About 22,560 people who got the software update could get $1,400, and around 80,000 who got new batteries could get $700. This settlement closes the chapter on the battery fires, but there’s still more to come for the Bolt. A new version is coming in 2025, built on a new platform called Ultium EV.
