The Chevy Volt: Detroit's Hottest Car (Cuz They Catch on Fire and Stuff)

by: warner todd huston | published: 12 01, 2011

Government Motors has finally found its hottest car and the Chevy Volt is it. Unfortunately for Chevy, it isn't because it is popular. It's because the car seems to catch on fire a lot. Industry watchers are preparing for the Volt to undergo a recall to fix whatever problem the car's lithium-ion battery pack has that seems to be causing the vehicles to spontaneously burst into flames.

Of course, this little catching on fire problem seems emblematic with everything about Government Motors. After President Barack "Lee IaJokka" Obama pumped $53 billion of our tax dollars into bailing out GM all we've gotten out of the deal so far is a stock tumble from $53 a share to under $25 (a $15 billion loss) and a badly selling "green" car that catches on fire every time you turn around. Such a deal.

As to the burning issue of the day, the Associated Press notes that an "investigation" has begun by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine why the cars are catching fire.

One Volt battery pack that was being closely monitored following a government crash test caught fire Thursday, the safety administration said in a statement. Another recently crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks, the statement said.

For its part, GM claims the cars are perfectly "safe." Well, except for that whole catching on fire business, I suppose.

It shouldn't be a big deal, though. It seems that only half a dozen people or so bought the thing anyway! The sales for the Volt have been dismal with only just over 5,000 units being sold during the first 11 months of the year. So the good news is that if there is a recall, GM can go to the individual home of every owner rather easily to inform them of the recall!

Friend Don Surber has the idea of the Chevy Volt just right, though. Calling the model the "electric Edsel," Surber notes that the car nobody wants is a bad idea all the way around.

The Volt seems to be a farce of the highest order, Suber notes.

• Even Thomas Edison couldn't figure out how to make a useful electric car.
• The problem the Volt is aimed at "fixing" is problematic because global warming is a farce.
• Even if global warming did exist, this "fix" is bad because it uses electricity that is generated by fossil fuels anyway.
• Worse, it takes tax money from us all to give it to the rich in a $7,500 tax credit. Apparently Most buyers of the Volt make $175,000 a year.

Spot on points, for sure. I'll add one more to the list. It turns out the Chevy Volt gets the same number of hours on a charge that an electric car created in 1896 used to get! Now THAT is progress.

If you are interested in how much the bailout of GM is costing you, check out www.Bailoutcost.com.

(See also: All American Blogger)

comments

• Reply to this comment

  Mark H

  This has to be the worst automotive related article I've read in a long time Mr. Huston.

  Your hatred for General Motors is getting in the way of good journalism in this case.

  I'm not a big fan of the Chevy Volt, but you don't mention anywhere that the risk of the car to actually catch fire was very little, hence why no official recalls have been issued for that matter.

  You also don't mention that GM is working with the NHTSA to fix the issue and also offered free loaner cars to concerned owners, something that they could of easily skipped.

  My point is : if you're about to swing away at any given company r, have the facts checked out first and give the readers all possible sides to the story so they can make their own opinion.

  
  

• Reply to this comment

  Mark L.

  Huston: There seems to be a glaring contradiction between your assessment at that from Consumer Reports. Please explain this:

  http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1070076_chevy-volt-electric-car-owners-most-satisfied-consumer-reports-says

  
  

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