DETROIT -

As the Chevy Volt’s battery safety is called into question by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the General Motors team is stepping up to the plate to reassure consumers it is standing firmly by the product. Management outlined several steps it’s taking to confirm the model’s safety, and the automaker is also offering free loaner vehicles. 

The new initiatives follow six months of research and testing in the United States by NHTSA to induce electric vehicle battery failure after severe crash situations.

The agency advised GM last Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle new car assessment program side pole crash test.

Back on May 12, NHTSA said it performed a NCAP side pole impact test, followed by a post impact rollover test on a Volt.

In connection with that testing, NHTSA officials believe they have identified the potential for intrusion damage to the battery that may result in a substantial thermal reaction and fire.

Federal officials explained that 21 days after the May 12 testing, delayed thermal heating and pressure release resulted in a fire that consumed the Volt and three other vehicles in close proximity at the test facility.

During the week of Nov. 14, NHTSA pointed out it performed follow-up battery-level tests to simulate the incident. NHTSA said it performed three tests simulating the mechanical damage to a battery pack observed from the first incident.

Two of the three tests produced thermal events, including fire, according to federal officials.

“Because of these test results, NHTSA has opened this investigation to examine the potential risks involved from intrusion damage to the battery in the Chevrolet Volt, in coordination with the agency’s ongoing review of the emerging technology involved in electric vehicles,” federal officials noted.

And as a result, GM North America Mark Reuss emphasized the company would take every precaution to assure the driving public of GM’s commitment to the safety of the Volt being handled after a severe incident and the total satisfaction of everyone who owned one.

“The Volt is a five-star safety car.  Even though no customer has experienced in the real world what was identified in this latest testing of post-crash situations, we’re taking critical steps to ensure customer satisfaction and safety,” Reuss declared.

“Our customers’ peace of mind is too important to us for there to be any concern or any worry. This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise any concern or doubt,” he continued.

“The question is about how to deal with the battery days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt, but for our industry as we continue to advance the pursuit of electric vehicles,” Reuss went on to say.

Volt Owner Loan Program & Analyst Reaction

Reuss also highlighted GM would establish a Volt owner satisfaction program.

The OEM explained any Volt owner concerned about safety can contact her Volt advisor to arrange for a free GM vehicle loan until resolution of the issue.

“A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners,” Reuss insisted.

“These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations,” he added.

Launched late last year, GM pointed out the Chevrolet Volt has won more than 30 awards in the United States and other markets. The Volt achieved a five-star NCAP overall vehicle score for safety by the NHTSA and is a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

GM also mentioned it carried out more than 1 million test miles in vehicle development.

Despite those accolades and tests, at least one industry analyst remained cautious about this Chevy model.

"Consumers may now have even more questions about electric vehicles and simply go back to the familiar, despite the fact that gasoline-powered vehicles have their risks too," stated Edmunds.com chief executive officer Jeremy Anwyl.

"Regardless of what type of car you have, it’s important to always have it checked out after an accident, as even a slight fender bender can compromise the crashworthiness of any car," Anwyl continued.

Two other Edmunds.com senior analysts chimed in, as well.
 
"Sales of the Chevy Volt have already been low, so this new development may not actually create a noticeable change in the marketplace," Michelle Krebs surmised.
 
Bill Visnic added, "Consumers wary of the new electric vehicle technology have an array of less expensive fuel efficient options to choose from. A number of conventional cars get 40 miles to the gallon and don’t carry the price premium of an electric car."

Senior GM Engineering Investigation Team

Mary Barra, GM’s senior vice president of global product development, explained the automaker established a senior engineering team to develop changes to eliminate concern of potential post-crash electrical fires and work with industry to ensure appropriate electric vehicle protocols were in place.

Barra noted such electrical fires had not occurred on public roads, and NHTSA was not investigating any such potential imminent failure on the roads.

“GM and the agency’s focus and research continue to be on the performance, handling, storage and disposal of batteries after a crash or other significant event,” Barra stressed.

“We’re working with NHTSA so we all have an understanding about these risks and how they can be avoided in the future,” she continued. “This isn’t just a Volt issue. We’re already leading a joint electric vehicle activity with Society of Automotive Engineers and other automotive companies to address new issues, such as this protocol of depowering batteries after a severe crash.”

Barra added the team would continue to work closely with NHTSA, suppliers, dealers and manufacturing teams to initiate any necessary changes as soon as possible.

Volt Defender from Prominent Engineering School

OEM officials recapped they once had an ad campaign that sang about baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.

According to a recent post on the blog, “Faces of GM,” William Destler has his own personal campaign that includes banjos, blogs, the environment and the Chevrolet Volt.

The blog item describes Destler as an unapologetic believer in environmental sustainability. He is president of the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology (RIT), and he told GM that “RIT is probably the world leader in what I would call industrial sustainability. That is, helping companies improve their bottom line by using less materials, using less energy, reusing materials and remanufacturing products.”

When asked about the concept that such environmentally focused steps might cost jobs, Destler vehemently disagreed.

“That’s nonsense,” Destler began. “In reality, the average company that we work with actually increases its profit margin as a result of these activities and that helps to grow the business, and that usually results in the hiring of more people as well.”

Since Destler drives a Volt, GM asked him if he drove it because it was more environmentally friendly than some other vehicles.

He replied, “It’s very simple. The Volt is the most technologically-advanced automobile in the world, and being an American engineer and the president of one of our largest engineering schools nationally, I think the fact that this was designed by American engineers and produced by American workers is something to be proud of. So I drive one with pride.”

That response covered the last two items in Destler’s campaign, but how about banjos and blogs?

Destler explained he has a collection of more than 150 banjos, plus a few other stringed instruments such as guitars and mandolins. He said that the collection started innocently enough.

“I started playing the banjo in graduate school and when I was looking for one to buy — one to learn on — I had friends who said ‘Don’t try to find a new one, they’re no good. Try to find an old one,’” Destler recollected.

“That was the worst piece of advice I ever got because I searched around antique shops and flea markets. Then I found one made in the 1890s, and that started me on a collecting habit that has gone on to this day,” he continued.

On the blog front, GM highlighted Destler has been writing a number of articles about his experience with his Volt.

The automaker emphasized the school president is not compensated for spreading the word about the Volt.

“My first article was why the Volt gets such good equivalent mileage because people think it’s because electricity is cheap. It’s the same price as gas,” Destler calculated. “It’s because the electric drivetrain is so much more efficient.”

Destler wrapped up on of his analysis of the Volt by describing the model as “practical transportation meeting everyone’s needs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Links to more of Destler’s work can be found at “Faces of GM,” located here.