GM Nears a Fix For Chevy Volt's Battery Pack

Reports today say that General Motors is close to a package of modifications to the Chevrolet Volt lithium-ion battery pack to prevent fires from being triggered after a crash.

Reuters quoted sources inside GM as sayiing the modifications would include laminating the circuitry in the Volt's 400-pound battery pack, while also reinforcing the case that surrounds the battery.

The cooling system would also be better protected against leaks in the event of a severe crash.  

There are about 6,000 Volts on the road today and presumably all of them would be recalled as part of the retooling process while changes would be made to newly-manufactured cars before they were delivered.

GM engineers are thought to be hoping to get final approval from senior management by the end of the week.  It's thought the changes could be made quickly once they're approved.

Cars burn

Even without the modifications, some safety experts say they're confident the Volt is safe as is.  All cars are potential fire hazards in an accident, with gas-powered cars being considerably more prone to catch fire than those with diesel engines. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) yesterday said it had no plans to strip the Volt of its five-star safety rating.

The institute, whose findings are used by insurance companies in rating the insurability of cars, said it found no evidence of damage to the Volt's battery packs after its crash tests.

Federal safety regulators opened a formal investigation of the Volt months after a Chevy Volt burst into flames following a crash at a federal test site. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) did not immediately disclose the fire, which occurred last May, several weeks after a Volt had been wrecked as part of a crash test.

General Motors executives have said the Volt's battery should be properly powered down after an accident but personnel at the federal test center apparently didn't know about or follow that advice.

GM has offered free loaner cars to Volt owners worried about the vehicle's safety. GM said that as of last Thursday, 33 of about 5,000 Volt owners have taken the loaners.

In a letter to owners and dealers, North American GM President Mark Reuss tried to reassure them by noting: "I am also a Volt owner, my daughter drives it every day and she will continue to do so."

Most Volt owners are apparently pleased with the cars.  Last week, the Volt came up tops in customer satisfaction in a Consumer Reports survey.