California is currently the largest market for the Chevrolet Volt; however, a recent safety issue reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tarnished the electric vehicle in California as well as the risk. Last December, the NHTSA launched an investigation, which cited that the vehicle’s battery packs may pose a safety risk in the event of an accident. The investigation was opened after two crash tests of the electric car caused its battery to spark or catch fire.
On January 5, General Motors announced that it had developed fixes to ensure that the vehicle poses no unusual risk of fire following a serious crash. GM reported that it will add steel reinforcements around the battery pack to prevent damage in the case of a crash. Furthermore, it will add a sensor to monitor coolant levels and a bracket to the top of the coolant reservoir to prevent an overflow.
GM contends that the Volt has always been a safe vehicle; however, they were making modifications to the vehicle to ensure their customers’ peace of mind. The NHTSA noted that they are likely to support the changes once a final report has been issued.
GM officials noted that they had conducted four crash tests between December 9 and December 21 and found no intrusion into the battery pack and no coolant leakage after applying the fixes. The automaker will make the modifications to approximately 12,500 Volts either on the road or at dealer facilities. In addition, it will incorporate the fix into future vehicles that it will begin production in February.
In a statement, the NHTSA said it believes GM's remedy will address its safety concerns. However, the agency will continue to monitor crashed vehicles for another week to ensure a fire does not occur. The NHTSA expects to complete its review of the Volt and publish its conclusions within a few weeks.
Volt sales fell short of GM’s goal to sell 10,000 vehicles in 2010. It sold 7,671 in the U.S. last year. However, GM sold 1,529 Volts in December, more than in any prior month. Sales were helped by purchases from business for cooperate fleets and because GM was able to get vehicles out to all its dealers for the first time since the vehicle launched a year ago.
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