This means that development, the NHTSA (with the help of the dep. of Defense, Department of Energy and General Motors itself) has officially launched a proper investigation into the Volt in order for its current battery implementation isn’t a security defect. Despite the announcement, the agency notes that of all of the Volts currently zipping along the streets, there has yet to be a to be an identical incident out at the open road. The NHTSA further clarified that there is not yet any cause of current owners to fret, as long as they haven’t been in an accident with their vehicle. Overall, GM describes the complete investigation as “procedural” at this point, stating that both GM was working with the NHTSA for over six months on a “broader program designed to urge battery failure after extreme situations.” Seems somewhat late at this point, but in any event, you will discover full details within the press releases from both parties just past the break.
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the subsequent statement today announcing the agency can be opening a proper safety defect investigation to evaluate the danger of fireplace in Chevy Volts which were focused on a major crash:
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is deeply committed to improving safety on our nation’s roadways. As a part of our core mission to scale back traffic injuries and fatalities, NHTSA is consistently working to make sure automakers are in compliance with federal motorcar safety standards, culling information to spot safety defects, and ensuring manufacturers conduct any necessary safety recalls. The agency has also developed a strong New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) to check nearly all of the vehicle models introduced to consumers every year.
This past May, NHTSA crashed a Chevy Volt in an NCAP test designed to measure the vehicle’s ability to offer protection to occupants from injury in a facet collision. During that test, the vehicle’s battery was damaged and the coolant line was ruptured. When a hearth involving the test vehicle occurred greater than three weeks after it was crashed, the agency concluded that the wear to the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery throughout the crash test caused the fireplace. Since that fireplace incident, NHTSA has taken a whole lot of steps to collect more information in regards to the potential for fire in electric vehicles taken with a crash, including working with the dep. of Energy and the dept of Defense – in close coordination with experts from General Motors – to accomplish rigorous tests of the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries.
With a purpose to recreate the May test, NHTSA conducted three tests last week at the Volt’s lithium-ion battery packs that intentionally damaged the battery compartment and ruptured the vehicle’s coolant line. Following a test on November 16 that didn’t lead to a hearth, a short lived increase in temperature was recorded in a test on November 17. Throughout the test conducted on November 18 using similar protocols, the battery pack was rotated within hours after it was impacted and commenced to smoke and emit sparks shortly after rotation to 180 degrees. NHTSA’s forensic analysis of the November 18 fire incident is continuous this week. Yesterday, the battery pack that was tested on November 17 and that have been continually monitored because the test caught fire on the testing facility. The agency is currently working with DOE, DOD, and GM to evaluate the cause and implications of yesterday’s fire. In all of the battery tests conducted formerly two weeks, the Volt’s battery was impacted and rotated to simulate a true-world, side-impact collision right into a narrow object together with a tree or a pole followed by a rollover.
NHTSA is just not conscious of any roadway crashes that experience ended in battery-related fires in Chevy Volts or other vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. However, the agency is worried that damage to the Volt’s batteries as section of three tests which are explicitly designed to copy real-world crash scenarios have ended in fire. NHTSA is therefore opening a security defect investigation of Chevy Volts, which can experience a battery-related fire following a crash. Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles haven’t been in a significant crash don’t have explanation for concern.
While it’s too soon to inform whether the investigation will result in a recall of any vehicles or parts, if NHTSA identifies an unreasonable risk to safety, the agency will take immediate action to inform consumers and confirm that GM communicates with current vehicle owners.
Meanwhile, the agency is constant to work with all vehicle manufacturers to be sure they’ve appropriate post-crash protocols; asking automakers who currently have electric vehicles in the marketplace or plan to introduce electric vehicles within the near future to produce guidance for discharging and handling their batteries in conjunction with any information they’ve got for managing fire risks; and interesting the dept of Energy and the National Fire Protection Association to aid inform the emergency response community of the possibility of post-crash fires in electric vehicles.
NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles have incredible potential to save lots of consumers money on the pump, help protect the surroundings, create jobs, and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on oil. In point of fact, NHTSA testing on electric vehicles up to now has not raised safety concerns about vehicles aside from the Chevy Volt.
NHTSA’s current guidance for responding to electric vehicles which have been in a crash remains the identical. The agency continues to induce consumers, emergency responders, and the operators of tow trucks and storage facilities to take right here precautions within the event of a crash involving any electric vehicle:
Consumers are advised to take the identical actions they’d in a crash involving a gasoline-powered vehicle – exit the vehicle safely or await the help of an emergency responder in the event that they are unable to get out on their lonesome, move a secure distance far from the vehicle, and notify the authorities of the crash.
Emergency responders should check a vehicle for markings or other indications that it truly is electric-powered. Whether it is, they need to exercise caution, per published guidelines, to bypass any possible electrical shock and may disconnect the battery from the vehicle circuits if possible.
Emergency responders must also use copious amounts of water if fire is present or suspected and, keeping in mind that fireside can occur for a substantial period after a crash, should proceed accordingly.
Operators of tow trucks and vehicle storage facilities should make sure the damaged vehicle is kept in an open area as opposed to inside a garage or other enclosed building.
As opposed to try to discharge a propulsion battery, an emergency responder, tow truck operator, or storage facility manager should contact experts on the vehicle’s manufacturer on that subject.
Vehicle owners shouldn’t ever store a severely damaged vehicle in a garage or near other vehicles.
Consumers with questions on their electric vehicles should contact their local dealers.
For future updates, visit www.SaferCar.gov.
Statement owing to Jim Federico, General Motors chief engineer for electric vehicles
2011-11-25
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) informed GM today that it’s going to begin a preliminary evaluation of Chevrolet Volt battery assemblies. The move to take this formal, procedural step is just not unexpected as GM has worked closely and cooperatively with NHTSA over the past six months on part of a broader program designed to urge battery failure after extreme situations.
The Volt is safe and doesn’t present undue risk as portion of normal operation or immediately after a severe crash. GM and the agency’s focus and research remains on battery performance, handling, storage and disposal after a crash or other significant event, like a hearth, to higher serve first and secondary responders. There were no reports of similar incidents inside the field.
With Onstar, GM knows real time about any crash significant enough to potentially compromise battery integrity. Since July, GM has implemented a post crash protocol that incorporates the depowering of the battery after a severe crash, returning the battery to a secure and occasional-powered state. This is the reason the continued collaboration between GM and NHTSA is so important and stands to profit the industry.
As leaders in bringing electric vehicles and advanced technology to market, GM’s aggressive testing with NHTSA to see the operating limits of this technology under extreme conditions can assist set battery performance standards for the industry going forward.
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