Chevrolet Volt Catches fire at NHTSA!

[Blue Maro Demon]

http://wot.motortrend.com/chevrolet-...ks-135313.html

[Zabo]

That's hot..

[JusticePete]

This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world. The press goes crazy and wants to see blood. This is a complete NON-event. The NHTSA takes a Volt and does a crushing side impact test on it. Then they let it sit for three weeks and make a headline out of the fire. Can you say dumb, Dumber and DUMBEST?

How about we take a gasoline vehicle with a crash test. After the test it is leaking gasoline. Then we park it for three weeks with gasoline dripping from it. It cathes fire and we are all surprised??? The people at the NHTSA should have done what ANY responsible storage yard or repair facility would have done. They should have 'unplugged' the battery pack just like they would stop the gasoline leak.

NHTSA didn’t follow Chevrolet protocol, which would have required the agency to de-energize the battery after the crash test.

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world. The press goes crazy and wants to see blood. This is a complete NON-event. The NHTSA takes a Volt and does a crushing side impact test on it. Then they let it sit for three weeks and make a headline out of the fire. Can you say dumb, Dumber and DUMBEST?

How about we take a gasoline vehicle with a crash test. After the test it is leaking gasoline. Then we park it for three weeks with gasoline dripping from it. It cathes fire and we are all surprised??? The people at the NHTSA should have done what ANY responsible storage yard or repair facility would have done. They should have 'unplugged' the battery pack just like they would stop the gasoline leak.

NHTSA didn’t follow Chevrolet protocol, which would have required the agency to de-energize the battery after the crash test.

If negligence were the case.. makes you wonder if someone at NHTSA wanted to smear GM's name in the mud by doing this totally stupid and irresponsible act on purpose.

Watch Consumer Report's pants explode with this one.

[JusticePete]

Spot on.

In this instance I believe it was ignorance, a lack of knowing the correct protocol for handling an electric vehicle. If the NHTSA does this right there will be a standard protocol for electric vehicles developed and disseminated. This is going to be a steep learning curve for shops, storage yards and first responders. There will be injuries or worse as they all adapt to the more electric vehicles on the road.

[Apex Motorsports]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world. The press goes crazy and wants to see blood. This is a complete NON-event. The NHTSA takes a Volt and does a crushing side impact test on it. Then they let it sit for three weeks and make a headline out of the fire. Can you say dumb, Dumber and DUMBEST?

How about we take a gasoline vehicle with a crash test. After the test it is leaking gasoline. Then we park it for three weeks with gasoline dripping from it. It cathes fire and we are all surprised??? The people at the NHTSA should have done what ANY responsible storage yard or repair facility would have done. They should have 'unplugged' the battery pack just like they would stop the gasoline leak.

NHTSA didn’t follow Chevrolet protocol, which would have required the agency to de-energize the battery after the crash test.

Isn't cutting all power the very first thing that emergency crews are supposed to do when they arrive on the scene of an accident? It does sound like that was not done in this case which is shocking. If NHTSA didn't follow protocol I guess the argument could be made that it is a new and unfamiliar technology/protocol and easily confused blah, blah, blah, but that is a training issue. Not a Chevy Volt issue. More info is definitely needed.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world. The press goes crazy and wants to see blood. This is a complete NON-event. The NHTSA takes a Volt and does a crushing side impact test on it. Then they let it sit for three weeks and make a headline out of the fire. Can you say dumb, Dumber and DUMBEST?

How about we take a gasoline vehicle with a crash test. After the test it is leaking gasoline. Then we park it for three weeks with gasoline dripping from it. It cathes fire and we are all surprised??? The people at the NHTSA should have done what ANY responsible storage yard or repair facility would have done. They should have 'unplugged' the battery pack just like they would stop the gasoline leak.

NHTSA didn’t follow Chevrolet protocol, which would have required the agency to de-energize the battery after the crash test.

You don't even know the details of how the fire started yet and you're already saying there is no way there is a problem. The investigation is to find out if there is a problem. Sure, this type of thing can be turned into sensationalism like with the Toyota gas pedal debacle, but the whole point of the investigation is is to find any potential problems. I doubt the NHTSA has shorted a bunch of GM stock and there is some huge conspiracy to drive it into the ground. “Based on the available data, NHTSA does not believe the Volt or other electric vehicles are at a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles,” NHTSA officials told Bloomberg in a statement. I don't see any problem with investigating a fire and making a statement that there's no reason to believe there is an issue yet. If everybody had enough bias to their given brand to just assume there isn't an issue the NHTSA would never open investigations.

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

You don't even know the details of how the fire started yet and you're already saying there is no way there is a problem. The investigation is to find out if there is a problem. Sure, this type of thing can be turned into sensationalism like with the Toyota gas pedal debacle, but the whole point of the investigation is is to find any potential problems. I doubt the NHTSA has shorted a bunch of GM stock and there is some huge conspiracy to drive it into the ground. “Based on the available data, NHTSA does not believe the Volt or other electric vehicles are at a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles,” NHTSA officials told Bloomberg in a statement. I don't see any problem with investigating a fire and making a statement that there's no reason to believe there is an issue yet. If everybody had enough bias to their given brand to just assume there isn't an issue the NHTSA would never open investigations.

You just said it all. NHTSA officials see no greater risk of fire than with a gas vehicle. That is not the headline they wrote -- Volt Catches Fire!

This is the same technique attorneys have been using for years. Mr. Smith when did you stop beating your wife?

I find the headline a pathetic attention grab by the NHTSA. We live in a sound byte world. Few will read the complete press release because the article quoted in the OP was not a complete press release. It is a cheap shot pure and simple. The headline is Volt Catches Fire. The text goes on to say the NHTSA believes the Volt to be safe and wants to look at ALL the cars that use similar batteries. The headline should have been NHTSA Initiates Study for Post-Crash Storage of Electric Vehicles. That is accurate, but a dull sound byte. Why was the NHTSA on Bloomberg -- because they put out a dramatic title on a dull story -- Volt Catches Fire

The NHTSA and GM have NOT been able to create any condition in which the batteries used on the Volt spontaneously combust. My guess, and maybe it isn't a guess, is that a short was created. The batteries in the Volt are cooled by a liquid. Damage to the cooling system could have created a problem through corrosion. Pulling the plug would have reduced the possibility of a short. Discharging the batteries would have eliminated all potential for a fire. A discharged battery cannot over heat or short out. Sometimes I know more than I can say.

The result of the NHTSA seeking attention with an sound byte press release is reflected in the title of this thread. I am tired of a press that caters to the lowest common denominator with sensational sound bytes. In six months or a year when they announce there is no flaw that caused this fire will anyone see it? Page One Volt Catches Fire. Buried in the business section six months later Electric Cars Pose No Additional Fire Risk. It doesn't even out. They never get the doubt they just created out of the market place. The damage is already done.

So when did you stop drinking, doing drugs, beating your wife???






















I am so sorry I said you were no longer fill in the blank...














Clarifications, completed reports and apologies never offset the initial headline.

[gml1998]

A classic Media witch hunt

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by JusticePete

This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world. The press goes crazy and wants to see blood. This is a complete NON-event. The NHTSA takes a Volt and does a crushing side impact test on it. Then they let it sit for three weeks and make a headline out of the fire. Can you say dumb, Dumber and DUMBEST?

How about we take a gasoline vehicle with a crash test. After the test it is leaking gasoline. Then we park it for three weeks with gasoline dripping from it. It cathes fire and we are all surprised??? The people at the NHTSA should have done what ANY responsible storage yard or repair facility would have done. They should have 'unplugged' the battery pack just like they would stop the gasoline leak.

NHTSA didn’t follow Chevrolet protocol, which would have required the agency to de-energize the battery after the crash test.

I couldn't believe I just read that...

[TOMS1SS]

Another reason not to read Motor Trend. I noticed this hasn't been picked up anywhere else.

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

If everybody had enough bias to their given brand to just assume there isn't an issue the NHTSA would never open investigations.

Cool... and if everybody had enough time to play devils advocate and actively try diminish a valued members opinion, no one would ever want to come to this website. Good thing there are only a few people like that.

Am I right?

[Lauryn200]

Japolink had mentioned it on their website on Thursday.

But they always make a tongue ~n~cheek joke when disastor hits ANY car brand.In September a few Dodge Journey's decided to have bonfire gathering and didn't tell the mechanics.Can't remember if it was at a dealership or headquarters at Toledo.

[tooslow]

It was also on CNN, USAToday and FoxNews this past week.