If you have the pleasure of owning an electric vehicle, you probably are well aware when the vehicle turns on and off. Although in electric mode the vehicle can be dead silent, there are chimes and warnings presented to drivers.
Unfortunately, it seems that two people have been injured by failing to realize their plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt was on.
Essentially, if you leave the vehicle on in electric mode and park in your garage without shutting it down fully, the electric battery will deplete thereby starting the gasoline motor. Once that happens — assuming the garage door is closed — you start carbon monoxide build up in the room, which will then spread into your home.
Because of this, General Motors will be issuing a software update to limit the amount of time a vehicle can be left idling in the "on" position.
This accounts for over 64,000 vehicles in the U.S., Canada and other exports.
Chevrolet's press release follows:General Motors is recalling 50,249 Chevrolet Volts in the U.S. from the 2011-2013 model years to implement a software update that will limit the amount of time a vehicle can be left idling in the "on" or "run" position. If a driver exits the vehicle and inadvertently leaves the vehicle "on" by failing to react to cues and warning chimes emitted by the vehicle, the vehicle's high-voltage battery will drain after a period of time and the gasoline engine will begin to run. If the gas engine runs for a long period of time within an enclosed space, such as a garage, carbon monoxide could build up. GM is aware of two injuries, both related to carbon monoxide build up. The total recall population including Canada and exports is 64,186.