The NHTSA closed its investigation of the Chevrolet Volt this week, but House Republicans called a hearing named, “Volt Vehicle Fire: What Did NHTSA Know and When Did They Know It?” on Wednesday. The hearing, like pretty much everything else that government does, was intended to undermine the opposing party. The main criticisms lobbed at the NHTSA was waiting six months from the beginning of the investigation in May to determine the cause, and then rapidly determining two weeks later that Volts were actually safe.
Here’s the story. The Volt engine fire occurred three weeks after an NHTSA side-impact crash test (in May) when conductive coolant leaked from the battery onto a circuit board. (The fire started three weeks later! Repeating to emphasize this!) The test also rotated the wreck in 90-degree increments, holding the car in place for five minutes. (More emphasis…there was not a real-world incident of this nature…it only happened after the car was rotated, which is meant to induce problems.) NHTSA claims it took months to pinpoint the cause, and rather than irresponsibly yank cars from the road (that aren’t suspended at rotating 90-degree intervals), it felt more comfortable not freaking Volt owners out.
So…if you’re stuck in a car for three weeks and a metal rod has penetrated your battery and someone is spinning your Volt and trying to leak coolant onto a circuit board, then maybe, just maybe your car will light up.
It’s all quite ridiculous and convoluted; Republicans are blaming the NHTSA, President Obama and Democrats for delaying the fire announcement to protect investments in electric vehicles. The Democrats are blaming the Republicans for trying to sabotage the car. And everyone seems to forget that the subsidies and tax credits for electric vehicles ($7,500, which expired on December 31st) were put in place by the Bush Administration in 2006.
Also, Republicans are calling the Volt fire an explosion.
Yes, this makes my head hurt, and yes, it should make yours hurt, too. If you have a Volt and you’re nervous, try to avoid spending three weeks in a crashed car or buy a new car with us.
I hate politics.
[photo by davehogg]
