Chevrolet Volt Catches fire at NHTSA!

[coolman]

I love this website and I understand brand loyalty ,but well I'll let it go at that.

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

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?

Actively diminish a valued members opinion? Is it now against the rules to disagree with vendors? I just find it ridiculous to

1. Draw a conclusion about the cause of the fire or the precautions taken by the NHTSA before the investigation is conducted.

2. Blame the NHTSA for the headlines in a completely unrelated privately owned media source.

The article states that there is going to be an investigation, but at this time there is no reason to believe there is a real problem. The article is titled, "Volt Catches Fire at NHTSA!" because well, that's what happened. Is that not accurate? Yes, the headline is about the volt catching fire, but isn't that the subject of the article? Anyone that actually reads the article knows what happened, it's not like they manipulated and cherry-picked information to paint the Volt as a dangerous vehicle that's going to blow up any time it's in an accident. Being upset about the media using attention grabbing headlines is like being upset with a week old baby for pooping itself. What did you want the article to be called, "Volt Catches Fire, but No Big Deal it Could Happen to Any Car, Just Skip This Article It's Boring". . . .?

What do you think the posts would be like if the article were exactly the same, but every "Volt" were replaced with, "Nissan Leaf?"

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

Actively diminish a valued members opinion? What does that even mean? I just find it ridiculous to

1. Draw a conclusion about the cause of the fire or the precautions by the NHTSA before the investigation is conducted.

2. Blame the NHTSA for the headlines in a completely unrelated privately owned media source.

The article states that there is going to be an investigation, but at this time there is no reason to believe there is a real problem. Is that not accurate? Yes, the headline is about the volt catching fire, but isn't that the subject of the article? Anyone that actually reads the article knows what happened, it's not like they manipulated and cherry-picked information to paint the Volt as a dangerous vehicle. Being upset about the media using attention grabbing headlines is like blaming a week old baby for pooping itself. If you think GM is being singled out and everyone is out to get your favorite company you are sadly mistaken.

You stated that he was biased for saying that the headline should have been worded in a more "PR-savy" way. I dislike the media just as much as the next person (and you presumably do as well), but you are putting your own tone on what he said and you don't even realize it...


As far as the Leaf thing, I bet you a lot of people on the board would be posting "hahaha Nissan, serves you right"...but I am not one of those people and I hate when people use the excuse that "because most people do something" it gives you a reason to dish it back in the same manner... You think people would have figured this out about me over the past ~4 years on the board....

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by Kyle2k

You stated that he was biased for saying that the headline should have been worded in a more "PR-savy" way. I dislike the media just as much as the next person (and you presumably do as well), but you are putting your own tone on what he said and you don't even realize it...

"This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world."

Sorry, this along with being a GM licensed vendor makes Justice factually biased. That's not to detract from his character or his knowledge in any way, it's just a statement of fact. Not only that, but my statement wasn't specifically about Justice, but more the reaction in the whole thread of, "BLASPHEMY!"

[Mr. Wyndham]

Too many people have too many "facts"....I'm actually beginning to dislike that word...

remember when everyone and their mother started using the term "epic"....yeah.......

[zebra]

problem solved, right?

[8cd03gro]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Too many people have too many "facts"....I'm actually beginning to dislike that word...

remember when everyone and their mother started using the term "epic"....yeah.......

If you'd like to point out which of my facts aren't so, I'll gladly rescind it.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Never said you in particular...just the word...I'm increasingly becoming aware of its over-use, in general.

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by 8cd03gro

"This is what happens the moment you become the biggest and best auto company in the world."

Sorry, this along with being a GM licensed vendor makes Justice factually biased. That's not to detract from his character or his knowledge in any way, it's just a statement of fact. Not only that, but my statement wasn't specifically about Justice, but more the reaction in the whole thread of, "BLASPHEMY!"

You have every right on C5 to parse my words any way you choose, but when you begin to think I would represent anything on Camaro5 that was not accurate you would be dead wrong. There is a clear line between supporting a business partner and my integrity. There never should have been a Volt Catches Fire headline -- ever. That is why you see 'updates' to the press release on some new sites . "Chevy Volt fire prompts U.S. safety probe of lithium ion batteries, report says" Was the correct headline or press release title that would have accurately conveyed the subject matter.

Allow me to to quote further the first two updated paragraphs.

"U.S. auto-safety regulators are scrutinizing the safety of lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles after a Chevrolet Volt battery caught fire, people familiar with the probe said.

The regulators have approached all automakers, including General Motors, Nissan Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co., that sell or have plans to sell vehicles with lithium ion batteries with questions about the batteries' fire risk, four people familiar with the inquiry said."

Here are the three revised summary paragraphs.

"In the simulated side-impact crash test, a new U.S. safety test for the 2011 model year, metal punctured the battery, the official said.

Regulators want to use information collected from automakers to inform emergency responders, towing firms and salvage yards about how to handle plug-in electric cars involved in crashes that may penetrate the battery compartment, the official said.

NHTSA will use the information from the automakers, which also include Toyota and BMW AG, for a three-year $8.8 million electric-vehicle safety study it announced in June, the official said."

Now that the remaining information has been made public you can see why I made my original post. We know the cause (metal pierced the battery). We know the solution (de-energizer, drain the battery charge). Accuracy is the key to credibility. To be clear, if I didn't already know, I would not have posted a response in this thread. There are occasions when I post that what I know cannot be made public, but the message can be. That was the case in this thread. I was a bit general in the cause, but completely honest and accurate in my meaning.

This is a NHTSA probe into GM vehicle issues. "NHTSA upgrades, widens probe of Saturn Aura cars" It is an accurate description of NHTSA activity. It was accurate as released and I have no issue with it. I have no comment on it.

This is a matter of technology and not vehicle brand. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. It is what it is. The initial sound byte headline for an electrical vehicle safety study should never have been Volt Catches Fire. It was wrong. It did not represent the message the NHTSA was distributing. The NHTSA has a clearly defined mission and that mission does not include sound byte headlines for important safety issues. Sound byte headlines cater to the lowest common denominator in our microwave society and compromise the perception of the agency while damaging companies.

[JusticePete]

Originally Posted by zebra

problem solved, right?

Actually no. The battery 'pack' has to be completely discharged for safe storage after a crash of scale similar to the NHTSA side impact.

[zebra]

yeah, makes sense if the cells actually get punctured

[Fightinfire921]

Originally Posted by Apex Chase

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.

Yes, the battery is disconnected on all tow away vehicles. Fuel pump operation, electrical shorts, and air bag deployment can be bad things working an accident.

[Mikeg1028]

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.

kinda reminds me about the bad press apple gets at times of silly shit

[aerishL]

I've read some articles about this topic, please allow me to share it here. A growing number of reports have been made concerning the transmission in the Saturn Aura of specific model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been looking into the situation since last year. Other GM models that were built on the same system as the Aura are also being viewed by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Source for this article: NHTSA widens probe of Saturn Aura transmission. To be fair, this fire occurred in a Volt being crash tested at NHTSA. Some time after a crash test with this car, the battery caught fire.