Sunday, November 27, 2011

NHTSA Statement on the Possibility of Post-Crash Fires in the Chevy Volt

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued this statement announcing the opening of a formal safety defect investigation to assess the risk of fire in Chevy Volts that were involved in a serious crash.  Here is a link to the press release:



Below is a partial copy of the text in the press release with the section highlighted about the risk of a possible fire:
"NHTSA is not aware of any roadway crashes that have resulted in battery-related fires in Chevy Volts or other vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. However, the agency is concerned that damage to the Volt's batteries as part of three tests that are explicitly designed to replicate real-world crash scenarios have resulted in fire. NHTSA is therefore opening a safety defect investigation of Chevy Volts, which could experience a battery-related fire following a crash. Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern."

As the text says, the NHTSA is not aware of any roadway crashes that have resulted in a fire, so this is being sent out FYI for safety awareness should you or your department encounter an MVC involving a Chevy Volt.

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