(GM)
Chevy’s plug-in hybrid Volt is getting a new plug.
General Motors is replacing the 120-volt charger included with every car sold so far with redesigned units with a larger, more durable and reliable cord, according to Reuters.
The move comes after several Volt owners posted complaints in online forums about their charge cables overheating and, in some cases, partially melting, but GM spokesperson Randall Fox said that the move isn’t a safety issue.
"It's just an effort to offer a more consistent charging experience," Fox told Reuters. "It's not a safety recall. It's more of a customer-satisfaction program.”
The 120-volt cable is included with each Volt, and can be used to charge the vehicle overnight off of a standard electrical socket, although many owners have opted to have 240-volt fast chargers installed in their homes.
Owners will be notified of the swap when they bring their cars in for upgrades to the structure that houses the Volt’s battery and its cooling system, which GM reengineered after government crash testing revealed a possible risk of electrical fire in the aftermath of an accident.