Uh, Oh! Chevy Volts are Zombiemobiles!

Tuckerfan · Nov 20, 2011

Three weeks after a crash test, the batteries in a Volt burst into flames!

The transition to electric cars is going to mean changes in everything, from where we fill up to how far we drive. It’s also going to require something of a learning curve, as unforeseen problems crop up. The U.S. government is investigating electric car batteries from all manufacturersafter a Chevy Volt caught fire three weeks after an NHTSA crash test.The Volt, The Volt, The Volt Is On Fire!

According to the report in Bloomberg, the Volt in question was used in a side-impact test, and then sent to holding lot. About three weeks after the test, according to the NHTSA, the Volt suddenly caught fire. The fire was intense enough to burn several nearby vehicles, and investigators have determined that the source of the fire was the battery.

This has led the Feds to begin an investigation of all electric vehicle batteries. The NHTSA was quick to note that all vehicles, electric or gas powered, have some risk of fire. Still, this is one of those problems automakers are going to have to deal with, and quite frankly, I haven’t a clue why a car would catch fire 3 weeks later.
The Chevy Volt has been involved in at least two other fires; one in Connecticut and, more recently, one in North Carolina, where a utility told its customers not to plug in their EV’s. The Connecticut fire was determined to have not been caused by the Volt, but this most recent incident is sure to feed the controversy surrounding the Volt, and other EV’s. What they expect to find, I don’t know. It is important to keep in mind though that most of us are driving around with many gallons of a highly-flammable fluid in our vehicles. But if this proves to be more than just an isolated incident, GM is going to have some splainin’ to do.Reason For Concern, or Concern For Reason?

Then again, the Volt caught fire a full three weeks after the crash. While not good…on the same token, it gives any accident victims more than enough time to escape. And indeed, there are details of this incident missing, like was there gas still in the car? Why weren’t the batteries removed? I’m not engineer, but leaving a potentially-punctured, high capacity battery out and exposed to the elements doesn’t seem like the best of ideas. I am hopeful the investigation will look into these details at the very least.
So why would a big battery like this burst into flames three weeks after a crash?Anybody with an electrical engineering degree want to chime in here, because I am well outside of my comfort zone.
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Caboose · Nov 20, 2011

!

John Castle · Nov 21, 2011

Ward · Nov 21, 2011

I guess I'm being dense this morning. What's the problem with the topic?

Lethesoda · Nov 21, 2011

Muad Dib · Nov 21, 2011

Zombie · Nov 21, 2011

Paladin · Nov 21, 2011

I couldn't find another thread on this topic, so...

NO LOCK!

Zombie · Nov 21, 2011

Admiral Ackbar: Take evasive action! Green group, stick close to holding section Dayton: "So as a happily married man, I know virtually nothing about sex." !

Mon Calamari: Admiral! We have enemy posters in Deep Space Nine: Revisited!

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Uh, Oh! Chevy Volts are Zombiemobiles!

Tuckerfan BMF

Caboose ....

Attached Files:

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John Castle Banned Writer

Ward A Stepford Husband

Lethesoda Quixiotic

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Zombie dead and loving it

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

Zombie dead and loving it

Log in or Sign up

Uh, Oh! Chevy Volts are Zombiemobiles!

Tuckerfan BMF

Caboose ....

Attached Files:

ibtl1.jpg

John Castle Banned Writer

Ward A Stepford Husband

Lethesoda Quixiotic

Muad Dib Probably a Dual Deceased Member

Zombie dead and loving it

Paladin Overjoyed Man of Liberty

Zombie dead and loving it

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