Doesn’t Lisa realize that the Volt was designed and had a remarkably early marketing campaign long before the government bail-out? It’s not a government program. It’s a private-sector program, with GM finally trying to catch up to the foreign auto manufacturers who have been making much better cars for many years.
During government crash testing some Volts caught fire.Speculation is that it could be the battery coolant or the plastic battery case (Nissan Leaf has a metal case)Unfair cartoon.
I’m into building and flying Radio Controlled airplanes, and some of them are electric, powered by smaller versions of the same type batteries used in the Volt and other electric cars. One of the dangers we learned early on is the effect of damage in a crash causing an immediate effect or showing up later in the charge cycle. Those batteries, when they short out and catch fire, burn at 5,000 degrees. Several hobbiests have lost their homes from charging their batteries unattended and/or without placing them in a ceramic jar while charging.I wouldn’t be touching an electric or hybrid car with a 10 foot insulated pole!!!
I was offended by, and have personally lost a bunch of $$ when 0bama screwed private investors and lenders out of the GM ‘bailout’ and handing the loot to the UAW. It is unfortunate that the company and its products are being badmouthed because of the 0bama’s theft . . ..The Volt is a technological automotive marvel. It is a test-bed for a host of new technologies and not meant for everyone, particularly since the recharging stations are not that common, yet.The two battery fires occurred days after the cars were subjected to some pretty severe impacts – the fix relates to structural strengthening of the battery compartment.’Most importantly however, the car has the highest consumer satisfaction rate of any cars sold in the US – 93%.
Of course spending three trillion dollars and thousands of lives on an experiment called “Iraq” was a real taxpayer bargain? Two (2) post-crash test fires. Anyone have an idea how many gasoline and diesel vehicles burn post-crash? Actually, it isn’t like in the movies, and is fairly rare, but most crash fires are actually started by the electrical systems shorting out after being damaged in crashes. Rule one when arriving at a serious crash? Disconnect the batteries!!!!!!
The real crash is the decades American “industry” spent being bucked up by Republican policies, with lower taxes as a reward, and little or no “pay back” into the system they pillaged.
Benson and her supporter are merely, well, idiots to buy the themes they constantly, and illogically, play to..
Anybody remember the Pinto?Or any of several recalls related to cruise control circuitry?Or similar ones with faulty gas tanks? Or Toyota’s problems with uncontrolled acceleration?ALL the Government’s fault, right?Of course, if the Gov hadn’t cosigned the loan for GM then Chevy wouldn’t be around to build the Volt, would they?
“Of course, if the Gov hadn’t cosigned the loan for GM then Chevy wouldn’t be around to build the Volt, would they?”.Actually, if GM was allowed to go through normal Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, all of the divisions would have been saved and would have continued the production – preserving most manufacturing jobs without nary a hiccup..The old GM, without the anchors of the UAW and other union ‘contracts’ and their ‘workplace rules’ was worth a lot of money, and there was plenty of venture capital eager to take them over, as GM was outselling every car company in the world, but was loosing money on most cars it sold, because of the union racketeers. It would have been even more expansive for GM to stop making so many cars, because again, of the UAW strangle hold, and requiring to pay 12-month full salary to all workers if a plant were to be shod down . . . ..UAW killed the company, then Bush loaned them some money to allow the new President to deal with the issue, and then 0bama stepped in with really BIG Federal Cash, screwed the bondholders and handed the spoils to the UAW, albeit even UAW had to agree that their existing contracts and rules were killers, so hence the new contract, at 1/3d of the old level, and work rules were also revised to more resemble reality..That said, Volt has been years in the making and it is one impressive automotive technological showpiece..I only wish that my fellow conservatives would look at the Volt as well as the new GM without being blinded by the 0bama’s involvement.
The Ford Model T and Model A also had technological problems and limited range. Does that mean the early developers should have rejected automotive travel? You have to start somewhere, and thankfully for people of vision.
ARodney over 12 years ago
Doesn’t Lisa realize that the Volt was designed and had a remarkably early marketing campaign long before the government bail-out? It’s not a government program. It’s a private-sector program, with GM finally trying to catch up to the foreign auto manufacturers who have been making much better cars for many years.
fbsmisterc over 12 years ago
ARodney, go read your liberal propaganda and leave the conservative sites alone and your blood pressure will go down.
rockngolfer over 12 years ago
During government crash testing some Volts caught fire.Speculation is that it could be the battery coolant or the plastic battery case (Nissan Leaf has a metal case)Unfair cartoon.
Jonni over 12 years ago
I’m sure anyone can have one with the electric blue charge card from Big Bailout Bank, [L.L.C., of course]
dahawk over 12 years ago
I’m into building and flying Radio Controlled airplanes, and some of them are electric, powered by smaller versions of the same type batteries used in the Volt and other electric cars. One of the dangers we learned early on is the effect of damage in a crash causing an immediate effect or showing up later in the charge cycle. Those batteries, when they short out and catch fire, burn at 5,000 degrees. Several hobbiests have lost their homes from charging their batteries unattended and/or without placing them in a ceramic jar while charging.I wouldn’t be touching an electric or hybrid car with a 10 foot insulated pole!!!
petergrt over 12 years ago
I was offended by, and have personally lost a bunch of $$ when 0bama screwed private investors and lenders out of the GM ‘bailout’ and handing the loot to the UAW. It is unfortunate that the company and its products are being badmouthed because of the 0bama’s theft . . ..The Volt is a technological automotive marvel. It is a test-bed for a host of new technologies and not meant for everyone, particularly since the recharging stations are not that common, yet.The two battery fires occurred days after the cars were subjected to some pretty severe impacts – the fix relates to structural strengthening of the battery compartment.’Most importantly however, the car has the highest consumer satisfaction rate of any cars sold in the US – 93%.
Dtroutma over 12 years ago
Of course spending three trillion dollars and thousands of lives on an experiment called “Iraq” was a real taxpayer bargain? Two (2) post-crash test fires. Anyone have an idea how many gasoline and diesel vehicles burn post-crash? Actually, it isn’t like in the movies, and is fairly rare, but most crash fires are actually started by the electrical systems shorting out after being damaged in crashes. Rule one when arriving at a serious crash? Disconnect the batteries!!!!!!
The real crash is the decades American “industry” spent being bucked up by Republican policies, with lower taxes as a reward, and little or no “pay back” into the system they pillaged.
Benson and her supporter are merely, well, idiots to buy the themes they constantly, and illogically, play to..
Nebulous Premium Member over 12 years ago
Anybody remember the Pinto?Or any of several recalls related to cruise control circuitry?Or similar ones with faulty gas tanks? Or Toyota’s problems with uncontrolled acceleration?ALL the Government’s fault, right?Of course, if the Gov hadn’t cosigned the loan for GM then Chevy wouldn’t be around to build the Volt, would they?
rockngolfer over 12 years ago
What “truth” are we talking about?How many privately owned cars have caught fire and how many injuries have occurred.
petergrt over 12 years ago
“Of course, if the Gov hadn’t cosigned the loan for GM then Chevy wouldn’t be around to build the Volt, would they?”.Actually, if GM was allowed to go through normal Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, all of the divisions would have been saved and would have continued the production – preserving most manufacturing jobs without nary a hiccup..The old GM, without the anchors of the UAW and other union ‘contracts’ and their ‘workplace rules’ was worth a lot of money, and there was plenty of venture capital eager to take them over, as GM was outselling every car company in the world, but was loosing money on most cars it sold, because of the union racketeers. It would have been even more expansive for GM to stop making so many cars, because again, of the UAW strangle hold, and requiring to pay 12-month full salary to all workers if a plant were to be shod down . . . ..UAW killed the company, then Bush loaned them some money to allow the new President to deal with the issue, and then 0bama stepped in with really BIG Federal Cash, screwed the bondholders and handed the spoils to the UAW, albeit even UAW had to agree that their existing contracts and rules were killers, so hence the new contract, at 1/3d of the old level, and work rules were also revised to more resemble reality..That said, Volt has been years in the making and it is one impressive automotive technological showpiece..I only wish that my fellow conservatives would look at the Volt as well as the new GM without being blinded by the 0bama’s involvement.
Gypsy8 over 12 years ago
The Ford Model T and Model A also had technological problems and limited range. Does that mean the early developers should have rejected automotive travel? You have to start somewhere, and thankfully for people of vision.
tenthreeleader over 12 years ago
The Chevy Dolt. Because government never makes mistakes.