Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

GM Gives Volt Owners Loaners as It Investigates

Says fires may be caused by electronic problem

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 28, 2011 12:28 PM CST

(Newser) – As the US investigates the Chevy Volt following fiery crash tests, General Motors will lend cars to current owners of the electric vehicles, the Wall Street Journal reports. Meanwhile, the company is working to fix the problem. It believes the fires aren’t caused by overheating chemicals, but rather, that faulty electronics are at issue. One possible solution: stronger battery casings. "I believe in the safety of the Volt," says an exec. "This technology should inspire confidence and pride, not raise doubt and concern."

This product image provided by General Motors shows a 2011 Chevrolet Volt. (AP Photo/General Motors)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

28%

10%

21%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

GM: We'll Buy Back Your Volt

CEO makes offer to those worried about fires

(NEWSER) - General Motors says it's willing to buy back its Chevrolet Volts from any customer concerned by fires in crash tests . If needed, the auto giant also is prepared to conduct a recall of the 6,000 Volts currently on the road, Dan Akerson tells the AP . The company would fix them after the cause of the fires is determined. "If we find that is the solution, we will retrofit every one of them,” he adds. More»

US Probing Chevy Volt Battery Fires

In testing, more batteries cause concern

(AP) - New fires involving the lithium-ion batteries in General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt have prompted an investigation to assess the risk of fire in the electric car after a serious crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says. One Volt battery pack that was being closely monitored following a government crash test caught fire Thursday; another recently crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks, according to a statement from the safety administration. More»

Disaster Awaits Chevy Volt

Nothing about this car makes sense

(NEWSER) - Like Rush Limbaugh , auto industry observer Edward Niedermeyer can't think of too many reasons to plunk down $41,000 on a Chevy Volt. Among his complaints: It's too expensive, it has the interior room of a cheap economy car, the business model is lousy—GM could have sold it a loss initially, as Toyota did with the Prius—the leasing deal doesn't make sense, and GM has quietly scaled back first-year production to 10,000 units because of its shortcomings. More»

Electric Car Hardly Electrifying

'Unremarkable' Chevrolet Volt as much publicity stunt as vehicle

(NEWSER) - The Chevy Volt is “the quintessential halo product," a loss leader intended to associate GM with innovation. With the pressure to make money off, the plug-in electric car's designers had the chance to create a vehicle that would make people "coo and stare," Cliff Kuang writes. "But you'd be hard pressed to tell what's so special about it, if it was driving next to you," he writes for Fast Company . More»

GM Will Halt Volt Assembly 5 Weeks Amid Slow Sales

Move will idle 1,300 workers temporarily

(NEWSER) - The Chevy Volt's battery fires may have generated a lot of heat for General Motors, but sales of the electric car are decidedly cool, forcing GM to shut down the Volt's production lines for five weeks beginning this month, reports the Wall Street Journal . The shutdown will leave 1,300 workers jobless from March 19 to April 23. GM said it will launch a new ad campaign this month and drop its 36-month lease by $49 to $350 per month. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

GM Gives Volt Owners Loaners as It Investigates

Says fires may be caused by electronic problem

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

General Motors • electric cars • Chevrolet Volt • car safety • Chevy Volt

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

GM: We'll Buy Back Your Volt

CEO makes offer to those worried about fires

US Probing Chevy Volt Battery Fires

In testing, more batteries cause concern

Disaster Awaits Chevy Volt

Nothing about this car makes sense

Electric Car Hardly Electrifying

'Unremarkable' Chevrolet Volt as much publicity stunt as vehicle

GM Will Halt Volt Assembly 5 Weeks Amid Slow Sales

Move will idle 1,300 workers temporarily

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?