Chevrolet Volt gets enhancements

The Chevrolet Volt will get enhancements aimed at protecting the battery from an electrical fire after a severe crash. These modifications will improve the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s battery coolant system and structure.

The enhancements are in response to an initial evaluation conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to check post-severe crash battery performance. It was on November 25 when the agency opened the evaluation after a severe-impact laboratory test on a battery that lead to an electrical fire after six days. Such test was performed in order to reproduce a coolant leak that happened in a full-scale car crash test in May, which led to an electrical fire after three weeks.

These modifications will reinforce a current portion of the car’s structure to further safeguard the battery in a severe side collision. These will also add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the reservoir of the battery coolant system to help avoid coolant overfill. A sensor will also be added on the battery coolant reservoir to observe coolant levels.

Volt owners will be notified individually when the enhancements are available for their cars. The modifications are also being integrated into the Volt manufacturing process as production recommences this month.

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