Jaguar Land Rover North America (Jaguar Land Rover) is recalling 2,760 2019 Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the United States due to the possibility of the vehicle’s high-voltage battery overheating, according to foreign media reports.
Jaguar Land Rover North America advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from buildings for charging until the recall repairs are complete and for 30 days after the repairs are completed.
As an interim repair measure, Jaguar Land Rover North America dealers will update the Battery Energy Control Module software free of charge, and the company has not yet developed a final remedy. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on 10/18/2024.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that these vehicles were previously recalled for the same issue, but a new remedy is required.
Since February 2020, GM, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Stellantis and Volkswagen have issued recalls, most of which are due to internal battery failures that could increase the risk of fire.
In November 2020, GM began a series of recalls involving more than 140,000 2017 to 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EVs due to a “rare manufacturing defect in the batteries,” a defect that has led to at least 10 fires.
Battery fires have long been a major safety challenge for electric vehicle technology.
EV battery fires typically result from thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries, which can be triggered by physical damage, overcharging, manufacturing defects, or short circuits within the battery. Thermal runaway causes the temperature of the battery to rise dramatically, which can lead to a fire.
To reduce the risk of battery fires, automakers and battery manufacturers are developing more advanced battery management systems (BMS), including real-time monitoring of battery status, intelligent thermal management, and the use of new materials to improve battery stability and safety.
As electric vehicles become more popular, regulators around the world are strengthening regulations and standards for battery safety to reduce the incidence of battery fires and improve the overall safety of vehicles.