When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) got a hold of a Chevrolet Volt for crash testing in 2011, little did they know that a rollercoaster ride would ensue. Three days after a side impact test in May, the wrecked half-electric, half-gas-powered sedan caught fire and immediately, the lithium-ion battery took the blame. Later in the year, a full-blown investigation into the batteries took place and GM was put in a rather interesting position. They took action any way they could to fix the car’s reputation and even went as far as offering owners a loaner car until a remedy could be found. With the help of the NHTSA, the Volt gained strategically placed supports and protection to ensure a battery-caused fire would not occur. With that behind the car, it can now rest fully as the investigation has officially been closed.
“GM is proud of the technological innovation the Volt represents. We appreciate the confidence our Volt customers continued to provide during the investigation,” said General Motors in a press release. Even though the NHTSA conducted follow-up tests, they are still unaware of any real-world lithium-ion caused vehicle fires and for that reason, they have called off the investigation. Coupled with the recent enhancements to the Volt, the evaluation outfit is under the belief that there is no safety difference between a conventional car and an electric one. ” Opened on November 25, the agency’s investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts,” said the NHTSA.
The Volt and its electric bothers didn’t get away scott free however. Both GM and the NHTSA urge consumers to become aware of the “specific attributes” of EVs. With the help of the National Fire Protection Association and the Department of Energy, an interim guidance has been written to instruct and identify the proper safety measures to perform in the rare occurence of battery fire.
Source: NHTSA & General Motors
