Alias Electric Sports Car

[Osteomata]

Have you heard about the cover up stories of the Volt? Chevy has paid a number of owners to NOT talk about the Volt's issues.

Well I have been looking into this supposed cover up, at least as best I can with google, and here is all I can discover:
- A GM crash test Volt was subjected to side pole damage and a subsequent roll over. Three weeks later caught fire.
- NHTSA opened an investigation and was able to replicate this in two instances, both of which had a fire occur a week or more after the rollover.
- GM offered all Chevy Volt owners an option to loan them a different car, or buy back there Volt during the investigation and until they resolved whatever came out of it.
- No private owned Volt has had this fire happen.
- GM made adjustments to the battery to prevent after the fact fires in th weeks following a roll over collision.
- NHTSA closed the investigation as resolved.

The only conspiracy-like charge I can find here is the 5 month delay in opening the investigation following the single reported incident of post wreck fire, which doesn't see too conspiritorial to me. The "paying people not to talk about it" seems to be a distortion of GM's customer focused offer to buy back Volts from those worried about it. Of course, its possible that the Chevy Volt was responsible for 9/11 and causes autism.

[rsteinmetz70112]

I wouldn't expect a fire 3 weeks after a crash test to set off alarm bells that something was wrong. I can imagine a lot of head scratching over the delay action pyrotechnics.

[Y33TREKker]

I personally think that if a person wants to have a genuine discussion about a possible conspiracy regarding an electric car, the General Motors EV1 would be a better place to start than the Volt.

[Bulldoggie]

I admit that I live in a College town, and in the NW we use Hydro power.
That said, in my town (and others) they are already installing charging stations in preferred parking spaces at Garages and Supermarkets.
But drives over 100 mile a day are still common.
I would go with a Prius, Leaf, or Volt. They seem to be a better value for the money. IMHO
Zap three wheeled trucks and some Electric Ecocars are common, as well as some Lic. and Tagged Golf carts that are driven daily by some commuters.

[Bulldoggie]

http://www.greencar.com/articles/5-e...an-buy-now.php
http://www.allpar.com/cars/adopted/GEM/
I see a lot of these GEMS in town and on campus as work vehicles.

[circmand]

Good article, would love to have a link if you get the chance. I think we are in agreement on the utility of a hybrid vs the all electric, at least for now. Which is why I think the OP should at least compare his offbrand electric to the Chevy Volt and other hybrid options.

T

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles...tric-cars.html

[Paul_A]

Lol! Now I'm Impressed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_ukLgsGEzs

[rowhard]

Co-worker has a ZAP electric 3 wheeler, along with some other chinese electric car, what a piece of crap, both of them. Don't get me wrong, not against electric cars, just when it's wrapped in pure junk and you have to pay this kind of money for them.

Here is his web site: http://www.pluginolympia.com/index.htm

[JHarris1385]

I assume those the only cover up stories? Ok?