Chevrolet Volt Fire Prompts Investgation Into Batteries

So... Three weeks after a crash don't keepyour ruined Volt in your garage?

The news will probably be all over this too

GM already put out a first responders information guide on the Volt many, many months ago. I have a copy that is too large in size to post here, but can email to anyone that would like it.

Sounds like they didn't dispose of the battery pack properly.

Concerns me a bit working in the collision industry. Makes me want to keep them out of the shop for concern of not following protocol to the letter.

Concerns me a bit working in the collision industry. Makes me want to keep them out of the shop for concern of not following protocol to the letter.

I don't know why this got voted down... its totally true. There were several stories on the news today, and the reporters explained that this impacts the collision industry and salvage industry more than the end user. I think its a valid concern, at this point, to err on the side of caution, because no body shop needs their shop burned to the ground, losing a bunch of other customers' cars in the process... and our environment doesn't need anymore junkyard fires.

Lithium batteries are not like lead acid, where the steel piercing the battery pack vaporizes after shorting the cells... instead the Lithium ion elements go into thermal runaway, until the unit catches fire... regardless if its a Prius, Volt or Leaf.

Sounds like they didn't dispose of the battery pack properly.

Well, no... typical of NHTSA, they saved the wreck for further study. Now they know not to do that.

It was voted down because some greenie doesn't think about what happens... when green turns to a charred black and a livelihood is gone. What am I going to do, pick flowers for a living?

or you could read the manual....

Post-crash, bodyshop instructions are in the owner's manual? Really?

GM already put out a first responders information guide on the Volt many, many months ago. I have a copy that is too large in size to post here, but can email to anyone that would like it.

I don't drive a tow truck, I work in a bodyshop. We are not "first responders". This fire loss occurred a good while after the crash test... you know, when a car is likely sitting inside a bodyshop, torn down for a damage estimate.

For something weird like this, I'd consult Alldata, I assume GM supplied them with the necessary info... but it's still daunting when one realizes how dangerous all electrified cars are after certain crashes. I do know that every stinkin' Prius we've worked on goes dead after being parked for several days, always need a jump box.

If a gasoline-powered car is going to burn, it will do so at the scene as the fuel system is compromised and a spark or hot surface ignites the fuel. With these electric jobbies, the idea that degradation over several days can lead to fire is a legitimate concern.

GM already put out a first responders information guide on the Volt many, many months ago. I have a copy that is too large in size to post here, but can email to anyone that would like it.

I have a copy of that, as well. Maybe you guys should read it. It tells you about what cables to cut, where the Manual Service Disconnect is, etc... but NOWHERE does it mention that a pierced battery pack may cause a fire... either immediately, or in three weeks time.

Time for greenie to rate me down for speaking the truth.

I don't drive a tow truck, I work in a bodyshop. We are not "first responders". This fire loss occurred a good while after the crash test... you know, when a car is likely sitting inside a bodyshop, torn down for a damage estimate.

For something weird like this, I'd consult Alldata, I assume GM supplied them with the necessary info... but it's still daunting when one realizes how dangerous all electrified cars are after certain crashes. I do know that every stinkin' Prius we've worked on goes dead after being parked for several days, always need a jump box.

If a gasoline-powered car is going to burn, it will do so at the scene as the fuel system is compromised and a spark or hot surface ignites the fuel. With these electric jobbies, the idea that degradation over several days can lead to fire is a legitimate concern.

Just because it works differently than how you are used to doesn't make it "bad."

Just because it works differently than how you are used to doesn't make it "bad."

I don't think anyone here is describing this as "bad" technology... but this is real problem with these battery packs and the car makers have obviously not informed enough people to the dangers of Lithium Ion batteries... otherwise, the NHTSA would have taken the appropriate action to protect the wreck.

What is the appropriate action? Honestly, I don't see anyone suggesting a course of action. Removal of the battery pack immediately in _any_ accident for inspection? What if its damaged internally? Immediate recycling of the battery pack? Who even takes these yet? In any case, in order to reduce the damage of possible fire, the battery pack is required to be quarantined. That's space that costs money, if its a parking spot, a warehouse or a container being shipped overseas full of battery packs to be recycled.

Obviously, this is a problem for the Volt first because it has the biggest battery pack... and therefore is most likely to be damaged. GM needs to ensure EVERYONE including owners, tow truck drivers, body shops, recyclers and used car lots to know the risk.

Quite frankly, GM, all along has towed the party line of "electric cars are safe, safe, safe"... and that is somewhat misleading.

Are other Li Ion battery devices being irresponsible? Sure... look at the exploding Dells a couple years ago... and Dell still does not really tell people about the dangers of damaging a battery pack, aside from a couple questionably understandable gyphs on the pack itself. Luckily, nobody has taken a shank to the laptop recently.