Volt owners offered free loaner cars from GM

DETROIT - General Motors says it will offer free loaner cars to Chevrolet Volt owners if they're concerned about the cars catching fire.

The move comes after last week's announcement that the government is investigating fires involving the Volt's lithium-ion batteries.

The company says it will contact the owners to reassure them that the cars are safe. But it's making the offer to make sure Volt owners don't lose confidence in the cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a Volt battery pack that was being monitored after a crash test caught fire on Thursday. The agency says another battery that recently was crash-tested gave off smoke and sparks.

More from MoneyWatch: Government probes Chevy Volt battery fire risk

The latest fires are in addition to a battery fire in a crash-tested Volt six months ago.

NHTSA said it had no reports of fires from real-world crashes. And the agency said in a statement: "NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles have incredible potential to save consumers money at the pump, help protect the environment, create jobs and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil."

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In its statement, NHTSA offered some advice for current owners of electric cars involved in accidents.

-- Exit the vehicle carefully if possible just as in a gasoline-powered car, which of course also poses fire danger in a crash.

-- Emergency responders should take note if a vehicle is electric and disconnect the battery pack if possible.

-- Tow-truck operators and salvage yards should store damaged electrics outside, not inside a closed building. (All fires in the NHTSA tests ignited weeks after the initial damage).

[Dgunner]

Toygotya motors is begining to get competition in all areas of auto manufacturing. Now they have competition rising in the recall department.They are already at the topand seems they remain number ! as long as the american drive to support foriegn investors who quickly run from thier customers in time of need . Like communist only Toygotya motors kills one at a time by proxy of automobiles. The american people deserve everything they don't get when they buy foreign. American parents feed thier kids to death and risk thier lives while driving these vehicles to thier local poison outlet disguised as fast food.

[msm495]

Poor, GM. Can run a company, can't make a high tech car. Now in damage control.

[Jesus_Loves_Children]

Lithium-Silicon-Ion Battery

What you need to stop the meltdown is a silicon gel based compound that slows the flow of ions when the battery overheats.

[TalMD]

This should make Noble Laureate Al Gore warmer!

[dustinketche]

How many Gas powered vehicles catch on fire without even being in an accident; all over the country, every single day??? Why havent we shelved those vehicles yet? Gasoline is highly flamable and I am very scared of what my gas powered car may do with or without having an accident. PLEASE GM / FORD / CHRYSLER Recall all of you gas powered vehicles due to safety concerns. Im tired of seeing cars on the side of the road burnt to a crisp. Its scary!!

[snewsom2997]

Most of those are cause by improper Maintenance, almost all of them.

[dustinketche]

Thats a ridiculous assumption. gas powered cars and extremely unsafe after accidents. Some of them even before accidents occur. Yes, a lot of the ones that catch fire without being involved in accidents do occur due to improper maintenance. But none of the battery powered cars caught fire just spontaneously. All of them caught fire days after the initial accident's. None of them due to improper maintenance. This is nothing but oil lobbyists pushing for bad PR so that there will be adecline in electric vehicle sales. These cars are the biggest threat to OPEC and middle eastern countries.

[snewsom2997]

It is called thermal runaway and is a common problem with Lithium Ion Batteries, the only reason they are used is because, there is nothing better. This is the same problem that cell phones and laptops have had over the years.