Chevrolet Bolt EV, EUV Dangerous Batteries Class Action

Might you feel a little restricted if your new electric vehicle (1) could not be charged to more than 90% of its capacity, (2) could not be allowed to fall below 70 miles remaining charge, and (3) could not be parked in your garage overnight because it might burst into flames? This class action alleges that General Motors Company (GM) has falsely advertised certain Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV vehicles equipped with defective lithium-ion batteries. Page 1 of the complaint shows a smoking and partially-blackened Bolt sitting in a driveway, in a puddle of water strewn with debris.

The class for this action is all persons who bought a 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV or a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV in the US or, alternatively, in California, for personal use and not for resale, between December 23, 2017 and the date of class certification in this case.

GM is a major auto manufacturer and a leader in sales of electric vehicles (EVs). It has plans to greatly expand the EV market with its new models. The complaint alleges “The key element of [GM’s] strategy is a new lithium-ion battery, called Ultium, that [GM] claims will give it engineering flexibility while reducing battery cell costs to less than $100 per kilowatt-hour.”

GM’s marketing, according to the complaint, touts the vehicles’ 259-mile range. The complaint alleges that its advertising and marketing are misleading because it presents the vehicles as safe and functional EVs.

Plaintiff David Kennedy leased his 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV in July 2021. According to the complaint, around a month later, GM issued a recall notice, “stating that the batteries may ignite when nearing a full charge. Specifically, [GM] wanted that the Class Vehicles’ charge should not exceed 90% the battery mileage should not fall below seventy (70) miles remaining and the Class Vehicles should not be parked indoors overnight due to the risk of fire.”

The complaint alleges that the vehicle cannot be used as a long-range vehicle, because it cannot be charged to full capacity, and because driving long distances risks letting the vehicle fall below 70 miles.

This complaint alleges that Kennedy has had to take a number of inconvenient precautions, including the following:

• That he can only charge the vehicle in the morning and early afternoon, when he can monitor the charge.
• That he can’t charge it overnight, the most convenient time, because of the risk of fire, which also limits the amount of charge he can give it.
• That he must park the vehicle outdoors, exposing it to the elements.
• That he can only drive it short distances, because of the limited charge and fear of the car overheating and catching on fire if it’s driven longer distances.
• That he must use other vehicles for longer trips, or for trips where he will have to park in a structure.

The complaint alleges that the vehicles are dangerous.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Automobile
Tags: Battery, Defective Automobile, Fire