Autoblog

GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety"

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

GM may have designed the Chevrolet Volt to cancel out potential "range anxiety," but the company is responding to a new type of worry today: fear that the Volt's battery will catch fire.

The problem? A Volt that had been crash tested in May caught fire three weeks after the crash conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This was revealed in early November.
The cause? A ruptured coolant line in the battery, which prompted a new safety investigation that was announced this past Friday.
The solution? GM's just-announced free vehicle loaner program and more tests.

Here are the preliminary details: Until the "resolution of the issue," any Volt owner who suffers from fire anxiety can get a free GM vehicle loan. Complete details of this "Volt owner satisfaction program" were not immediately available, but GM North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, "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. These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations."

On the investigation front, GM said it would set up a senior engineering team to "develop changes to eliminate concern of potential post-crash electrical fires and work with industry to ensure appropriate electric vehicle protocols were in place." As reasonable voices have pointed out recently, the situation that happened at NHTSA has not been replicated in the real world and is unlikely to happen to any Volts out in the wild. In fact, NHTSA's official statement said that "Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern." Still, Reuss said that, "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. 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."

Continue reading GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety"

GM will loan free cars to Chevy Volt owners who have "fire anxiety" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt earns five-star NHTSA crash rating [w/videos]

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has earned "good" marks in crash tests before, and new tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's New Car Assessment Program prove that the earlier results were not a fluke. The Volt scored a five-star overall safety rating, which is the highest-possible score in NHTSA's new and more strict safety tests for 2011 model year vehicles.

General Motors says that a comprehensive system of safety features - specifically the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system and a bunch of air bags - helped the Volt become the first electric vehicle to get five stars.

The "first" part might be simply because NHTSA has not yet tested a Nissan Leaf. The agency will soon smash and bash the electric machine from Japan, and we expect the all-electric hatch will match GM's plug-in hybrid for safety - as it has before. Until then, we can view with fascination the Chevy Volt crash videos after the jump.

Continue reading Chevy Volt earns five-star NHTSA crash rating [w/videos]

Chevy Volt earns five-star NHTSA crash rating [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Nissan, Electric

Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf Crash Tests - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has completed its first test of mainstream plug-in vehicles, and both the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the 2011 Nissan Leaf have were named "Good" for their front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. Testing procedures for these plug-in vehicles were exactly the same as for any other automobile the IIHS tests, as they should be.

The two plug-in pioneers join 80 other 2011 vehicles in earning the Top Safety Pick title, thanks to their fine performance in instrumented crash testing and their standard electronic stability control. For what it's worth, other fuel sippers like the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Honda Insight have also been named Top Safety Picks in the past. That said, the IIHS has taken issue with some plug-in electric vehicles in the past, specifically the not-quite-a-car NEVs like the Gem e2 or the Wheego Whip.

Of course, we all know how much fun it is to watch brand-new cars being smashed to bits in the name of safety, so we've gone ahead and embedded a video of the two plug-ins undergoing the crash testing process. Hit the jump to see for yourself and to check out the official press release.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt crash tests

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf crash tests

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf earn Top Safety Picks in first IIHS electric vehicle crash tests originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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