DFP
Why did a Chevy Volt catch on fire?
General Motors says it believes the fire occurred because NHTSA did not follow GM’s recommended safety protocol for a post-crash Volt, spokesman Greg Martin said.
“Had those safety protocols been followed for this test, this incident would not have happened,” he said. This is the only crashed Volt ever to catch fire, Martin said.
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In protest of the Vietnam War?
JohnGalt23 on November 11, 2011 at 11:42 PM
I’m betting suicide.
mankai on November 11, 2011 at 11:45 PM
How do you drain a battery that large without over heating the battery or the load being used to discharge the battery?
(you have to read the article to see that is the recommend ‘safety procedure’ that was not followed.)
Skandia Recluse on November 11, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Some idiot switched it on?
OldEnglish on November 11, 2011 at 11:46 PM
To get attention?
Fallon on November 11, 2011 at 11:47 PM
I’m guessing we’re not talking about sales here, right?
MeatHeadinCA on November 11, 2011 at 11:47 PM
A year or two ago, HA had a story of a Volt setting a garage on fire. I don’t remember it having had been in a crash. I think it was in Conn.
Blake on November 11, 2011 at 11:51 PM
Duke Energy has asked that Volt customers in NC and IN hold off on charging up until they can determine what caused a fire in a guy’s garage earlier this week.
mankai on November 12, 2011 at 12:02 AM
Batteries have a history of swelling and blowing up if they over charged? Inverters that convert AC electicity to DC electricity fail, usually by a part that costs a Quarter? When electrical components fail, they overheat, heat and oxyegen create fire? It’s a piece of junk?
Hog Wild on November 12, 2011 at 12:16 AM
I like this part:
What else hasn’t GM told the NHTSA about the Volt? What haven’t they told the buyers?
So a 20 mph crash is going to require a battery drain?
And firefighters will be pleased to learn that they will most likely be the ones forced to drain the batteries at crash sites.
And Volt car owners, thinking that the damage is minor and that they can drive away, are going to be mighty miffed that a firefighter drained their battery and they will be forced to tow it.
Tow trucks owners heart the Volt.
journeyintothewhirlwind on November 12, 2011 at 12:48 AM
I shall keep to my Toyota, thanks.
mjk on November 12, 2011 at 1:08 AM
Wanna bet!
Lipos are a major fire hazared!
The following terms all mean “Lithium Polymer Battery”
Lithium Polymer
Li Polymer
LiPoly
LiPolys
Li Poly
Li-Poly
LiPo
Li Po
Li-Po
lipo batteries and fire
General Guidelines and Warnings:
1. Use specific Lithium Polymer charger only. Do not use a NiMH or NiCd charger – Failure to do so may a cause fire, which may result in personal injury and property damage.
2. Never charge batteries unattended. When charging LiPo batteries you should always remain in constant observation to monitor the charging process and react to potential problems that may occur.
3. Some LiPo chargers on the market may have technical deficiencies that may cause it to charge the LiPo batteries incorrectly or at an improper rate. It is your responsibility solely to assure the charger you purchased works properly. Always monitor charging process to assure batteries are being charged properly. Failure to do so may result in fire.
4. If at any time you witness a battery starting to balloon or swell up, discontinue charging process immediately, disconnect the battery and observe it in a safe place for approximately 15 minutes. This may cause the battery to leak, and the reaction with air may cause the chemicals to ignite, resulting in fire.
5. Since delayed chemical reaction can occur, it is best to observe the battery as a safety precaution. Battery observation should occur in a safe area outside of any building or vehicle and away from any combustible material.
Wire lead shorts can cause fire! If you accidentally short the wires, the battery must be placed in a safe area for observation for approximately 15 minutes. Additionally, if a short occurs and contact is made with metal (such as rings on your hand), severe injuries may occur due to the conductibility of electric current.
A battery can still ignite even after 10 minutes.
In the event of a crash, you must remove battery for observation and place in a safe open area away from any combustible material for approximately 15 minutes.
If for any reason you need to cut the terminal wires, it will be necessary to cut each wire separately, ensuring the wires to not touch each other or a short may occur, potentially causing a fire.
To solder a connector: Remove insulating tape of Red wire and solder to positive terminal of a connector, then remove insulating tape of Black wire and solder to the negative terminal of connector. Be careful not to short the wire lead. If you accidentally cause the battery to short, place it in a safe open space and observe the battery for approximately 15 minutes. A battery may swell or even possibly catch fire after a short time.
Never store or charge battery pack inside your car in extreme temperatures, since extreme temperature could ignite fire.
LIPOs are a major fire hazared. Always have been. there is tons of examples on the web, just look up lipo batteries and fire
DSchoen on November 12, 2011 at 2:39 AM
Yes. In sympathy with OWS. Stupid lefty car.
hepcat on November 12, 2011 at 2:50 AM
Can I start calling it the Chevy Zippo?
batter on November 12, 2011 at 2:51 AM
Was is built in Flint?
It caught fire because it was union made and rushed to market for political motivation.
To GM spokesman Greg Martin … what is the “safety protocol” for not burning down aging rockstars garage?
kregg on November 12, 2011 at 5:36 AM
This is the third fire: One in Connecticut, one in North Carolina, and one after a test crash. In the first two, they were in the process of being charged and there was no evidence of damage to the battery.
Blake on November 12, 2011 at 5:56 AM
How about Pinto II: Electric Boogaloo.
apostic on November 12, 2011 at 6:03 AM
Ultimately the fire was caused by Obama’s subsidization of GM. When something gets subsidized it turns to sh-t. Like everything Obama touches.
JeffB. on November 12, 2011 at 7:26 AM
Because sales are just on FIRAH!
thebrokenrattle on November 12, 2011 at 7:34 AM
More to the point, the fact that the care has been put on the market before these kinds of things have been worked out is a consequence of those subsidies.
Count to 10 on November 12, 2011 at 7:37 AM
with apologies to Arthur Brown….
apostic on November 12, 2011 at 8:06 AM
Self-immolation. It knows it wears the brand of a great American car company but now bears the tattooed stain of socialistic control. It simply cannot go on knowing that Chevy’s once ruled the dragstrip and the tri-oval at Daytona and are now reduced to a pitiful electric greenmachine…so it did the deed in protest.
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 8:11 AM
Steve Eggleston on November 12, 2011 at 10:12 AM