GM Offering Payments for Bolt Owners Willing to Use Battery Diagnostic Software

by Chris Teague

October 30th, 2023 1:00 PM

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gm offering payments for bolt owners willing to use battery diagnostic software

It’s important to have recall work done without delay if you can help it. The fixes are free, and in some cases, the work is necessary to keep you and others on the road safe. Chevrolet conducted one of the most significant recalls in recent times with the Bolt and Bolt EUV. Though it’s been a while since the initial recall action, we’re still hearing news on the situation, with the latest being that GM is offering payments to owners for using related diagnostic software.

The automaker is offering a $1,400 Visa gift card to Bolt and Bolt EUV owners in the United States to incentivize using its diagnostic software. Earlier this year, GM announced that it would halt its battery replacement efforts in the 2020-2022 EVs and said that it would instead rely on diagnostic tools to monitor battery condition and monitor for a need to replace. The software monitors the battery for 6,200 miles while limiting capacity to 80 percent.

GM has already replaced batteries in several model years, and some owners found a slight boost in range with the new components. The automaker announced that it would discontinue the Bolt at the end of 2023 but later backtracked with a statement that the vehicle would return with new Ultium battery technology.

[Image: GM/Chevrolet]

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Chris Teague

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10 of 27 comments

Dukeisduke on Oct 30, 2023

This sounds like something Hyundai/Kia would do.

1 Reply
CoastieLenn on Oct 30, 2023

At least GM is offering to pay owners to use this software that could benefit their vehicles. Tesla would charge the owner the $1400 and call it a beta test. Stans would clammer to be first in line.

1 Reply
- See 3 previous
- Jalop1991 on Oct 30, 2023
  
  "benefit their vehicles"??????
  This is to benefit GM, and no one else. "If you allow us to take away some battery from you and let some software sit there to help us figure out how not to replace batteries for everyone, we'll give you free Starbucks for a month."
  Back in 2008 or so, when Honda was facing warranty claims for the batteries on its Civic Hybrid cars, they just did a recall--and turned the battery WAY down, in the hopes that that would prevent it from failing during the warranty. The buyer/driver got screwed, but Honda didn't care. This strategy sounds SO familiar...
  And in the end, all these Bolts will end up with diminished battery capacity left in place. Hey, for free Starbucks for a month will you let us drastically lower the resale value of your car?
  
  Like
- SCE to AUX on Oct 30, 2023
  
  @Jalop1991: I agree with you, but at least if these stubborn owners simply get their batteries replaced under warranty they end up with a fully functional, safer car with better resale.
  I'd go straight for the free replacement and tell them to stuff the gift card.
  
  1
- CoastieLenn on Oct 30, 2023
  
  @Jalop- IDK, I think it's a pretty good benefit to have software running that analyzes the condition of your battery and helps lessen the likelihood that it'll... combust. Don't get me wrong, I would rather see them replace all batteries AND install this software, but if they're pulling the replacement possibility, at least this software will be able to help determine *if* an owner actually needs replacement.
  
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- MaintenanceCosts on Oct 30, 2023
  
  SCE, would do exactly the same.
  
  Like
- Jalop1991 on Oct 30, 2023
  
  SCE: you assume replacement is still on the table.
  Coastie: how about they simply replace ALL the batteries AND use this magical software on EVERY FREAKING EV THEY SELL from here on out if the software is so good and useful.
  Why is this stupid offer on the table in any way in the first place?
  
  Like
Tassos on Oct 30, 2023

Just did a check on Cars.com, there are 2,770 Bolts for sale in all US and the lowest priced copies are a 2019 with 61kmiles for $12,500 and a 2017 with 43k, both with excellent batteries, both the "EV LT" variant, whatever the hell what (if anything) the "LT" means. And DUH, of course "LT" is a trim level, but what does it MEAN?

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- See 1 previous
- Jalop1991 on Oct 30, 2023
  
  LT=Love Tows.
  
  1
- SCE to AUX on Oct 30, 2023
  
  LT is a Chevy trim level.
  
  Like
- MaintenanceCosts on Oct 30, 2023
  
  2017-2021: LT is the base trim, Premier is the uplevel. Premier gets you the full suite of active safety features, a panoramic-view camera, leather upholstery, rear seat heaters, better-looking wheels, and unlocks available Bose stereo and faster-charging options (both of which my car has).
  2022-23: They are all LTs now, divided into LT1 (which is just like the old LT, except with all the active safety features) and LT2 (which is just like the old Premier, except that the Bose stereo is gone). To get a Premier you have to step up to the Bolt EUV.
  
  2
Analoggrotto on Oct 31, 2023

This is pathetic, stupid and very much not a good look. Even for GM who is somehow the expert at these things. What do they pay management to do over there?

1 Reply