General Motors is reaching out to Volt customers concerned that their vehicle’s batteries might catch fire under certain circumstances after a crash, by offering them a free loaner car until the company resolves the issue.
The problem first arose in May when a Chevy Volt’s lithium-ion batteries caught fire while the car was parked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s [NHTSA] Winsconsin facilities, three weeks after it had been subjected to a side-impact crash test.
The NHTSA simulated three more side impact tests with different Volts on November 16, 17 and 18, which resulted in one battery pack catching fire, one smoking and emitting sparks, while one vehicle came out completely clean.
The Detroit-based automaker said that the while company was not aware of any such incidents on public roads, it would take all necessary precautionary measures to “ensure customer satisfaction and safety”.
“Our customers’ peace of mind is too important to us for there to be any concern or any worry. This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America.
“The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles,” he added.
Mary Barra, senior vice president, Global Product Development, said GM has already assembled a senior engineering team to develop changes to eliminate any concerns of potential post-crash electrical fires.
“We’re working with NHTSA so we all have an understanding about these risks and how they can be avoided in the future,” said Barra.”This isn’t just a Volt issue. We’re already leading a joint electric vehicle activity with Society of Automotive Engineers and other automotive companies to address new issues, such as this protocol of depowering batteries after a severe crash.”
As for those Volt owners concerned about the safety of their cars, GM said that they can contact the company and arrange for a free GM vehicle loan.
“A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners,” said Reuss. “These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations.”
PHOTO GALLERY
