Hybrid Electric Volt Catches Fire While Testing

Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 12:42 [IST]

It is a known fact that petroleum products are flammable. We have seen several cars catching fire after a spark ignited the car's fuel. Electric cars with their more stable batteries were considered to be safer as there is little chance of a fire. That was the belief until recently. News from the united states say a Chevrolet Volt had caught fire while it was crash tested.

The Chevrolet Volt is not exactly an electric car. Rather it is a hybrid with a petrol engine that acts as a range extender. The car was crash tested by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the results were quite startling. The Volt's batteries started smoking and caught fire after the car was made to collide with a barricade at 60mph.

The NHTSA has now asked all carmakers to study the lithium ion batteries more keenly to ascertain a possibility of a fire General Motors on its part has stated that the Volt is a very safe car and the the instance of fire was a rare one. A GM spokesperson has stated there was no danger in the lithium batteries of the Volt.

General Motors is now working with NHTSA to conduct more investigations in to the incident. The Volt that caught fire during the crash test had reportedly suffered huge damages to its side panels. The batteries could have suffered some damage which then resulted in the fire. There has been no confirmed reports on what exactly caused the fire.

This incident is a warning to all supporters of electric cars who were vouching for these cars on the basis of safety.