The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports it is conducting a formal safety investigation into the risk of fires in Chevy Volts that have been involved in "serious" crashes.
In May 2011, a Chevy Volt used in a standard NHTSA side collision crash test caught fire more than three weeks after it was crashed. NHTSA found that the Volt's lithium-ion battery had been damaged and a coolant line had been ruptured in the crash. After determining that damage to the battery had caused the fire, NHTSA conducted three more crash tests in which the Volt's battery pack was damaged and coolant line ruptured. In two of the tests, fires resulted within hours of the test crash. In a third test, conducted on November 16, the battery pack slowly began to heat up and finally caught fire on November 24.
"In each of the battery tests conducted in the past two weeks, the Volt's battery was impacted and rotated to simulate a real-world, side-impact collision into a narrow object such as a tree or a pole followed by a rollover," noted the NHTSA.
NHTSA stressed that it had not been notified of any actual crashes that had resulted in battery-related fires in Chevy Volts or other vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries and that Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been involved in a serious crash have no reason for concern.
NHTSA Supports Electric Cars: "NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles have incredible potential to save consumers money at the pump, help protect the environment, create jobs, and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on oil," stated NHTSA in a press release. "In fact, NHTSA testing on electric vehicles to date has not raised safety concerns about vehicles other than the Chevy Volt."
NHTSA Advice to Consumers: The NHTSA recommends that drivers of electric vehicles involved in crashes exit the vehicle safely or await the assistance of an emergency responder if they are unable to get out on their own, then move a safe distance away from the vehicle, and notify the authorities of the crash. In addition NHTSA warns that owners of electric vehicles should not store a severely damaged vehicle in a garage or near other vehicles.
Also See:
U.S. Highway Death Toll Hits 10-Year High in 2002
Highway Death Rate for 2004 Sets Record Low
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Photo: Jay Leno Shows Off His Chevrolet Volt -Getty Images
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