General Motors’ fortunes are tied heavily to its new Ultium EV technology. It underpins several existing and upcoming models and is the basis of the automaker’s EV efforts, costing billions of dollars and years of development. A few Ultium-based models have already gone on sale without too many issues, including the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq, but the most recent release hasn’t gone so smoothly. The Chevrolet Blazer EV has recently failed in two high-profile tests by automotive publications, raising questions about its electrical system and software.
Kevin Williams at InsideEVs experienced several issues on his road trip from Ohio to North Carolina, leaving him stranded at a rural charging station. Now, Edmunds is reporting a similar experience, with its almost-new long-term Blazer EV test vehicle recording dozens of errors and weeks in the dealer repair department.
While Williams’ road trip ended with a stranded journalist and a vehicle that couldn’t complete its intended journey, Edmunds’ at least ended in its home area in Southern California. The publication saw eight warning lights during its trip between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Unlike Williams, Edmunds got a 12-volt system error, but both experienced issues charging. Both experiences also unraveled over a short period, but Edmunds recorded 23 issues requiring fixes. The publication sent its SUV to the dealer, where it’s been for more than two weeks so far, requiring support from a GM technician and surrounding stores.
The list of faults is long and won’t be all that interesting for many readers, but there are a few issues to address. The body and drive motor control modules malfunctioned, leaving “lost communication” messages with some windows, while the head-up display experienced a “general electrical malfunction.”
To be fair, this is not only a brand-new vehicle but a brand-new vehicle in a somewhat untested format for GM. People often advise against buying first-generation mobile phones and electronic devices because of the complexity involved with developing an all-new product, so, hopefully, General Motors and Chevy can address these issues with an over-the-air software update to smooth the landing a bit.
[Image: Chevrolet]
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