Chevrolet Electric Car Catches Fire While Charging, General Motors Recalls 50 Thousand Units

GM recalls nearly 51,000 Bolt electric cars in the US. (Image Credit: Vermont State Police)

JAKARTA - Two electric cars made by General Motors (GM) were recently reported to have caught fire while charging their batteries. It didn't take long for the company to announce a recall of more than 50 thousand units of the Chevrolet Bolt EV produced from 2017 to 2019.

The company said the recall was intended because of the discovery of a serious problem in the battery part of this car that could burn the electric car.

Likewise, the Department of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States (US) also issued a regulation that owners of 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt electric cars may not park their cars indoors, or leave them charging overnight without supervision.

"Owners of the 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV should immediately park their vehicle outside until further notice, due to the potential for an unattended fire in the high-voltage battery, which is located under the undercarriage of the rear seat of the car," the NHTSA announcement reads.

One fire incident broke out outside the home of a Vermont state legislator earlier this month, while another occurred in New Jersey. According to NHTSA, the batteries in these vehicles included in the safety warning could emit smoke and catch fire.

"At GM, safety is our highest priority, and we are moving as quickly as possible to investigate this matter," a GM spokesperson told CNBC International Monday, July 19.

From the recall, GM recalled nearly 51,000 Bolt electric cars in the US. The company issued an update for the electric car by limiting battery charging to 90 percent of a full charge.

For another safety boost, GM will also install diagnostic software on the cars to prevent further fires. They also promise to test and replace any abnormal batteries.

Part of the reason the ongoing Bolt fire reports are of concern is due to the fact the 2017 to 2019 models use the same cells as the Hyundai Kona.

Both companies supply batteries for their electric vehicles from LG Chem. Last year, Hyundai recalled 25,564 Kona electric cars after more than a dozen fire incidents and then replaced the batteries in 75,680 vehicles.