Report: GM to buy back Volts if owners are worried about NHTSA investigation

2011 Chevy Volt b

Earlier this week, General Motor said that it will allow any Chevrolet Volt owner concerned about safety a free GM vehicle loan until the NHTSA completes its investigation into the plug-in hybrid’s lithium-ion battery.

The NHTSA opened a formal probe into the Chevrolet Volt this past weekend following test results that caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test.

In an effort to keep Volt customers satisfied, General Motor CEO Dan Akerson said that it is willing to buy back Volts from owners concerned about the government’s investigation and their safety.

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“We’re considering it,” he said of the buyback. “What we’re finding is that we have an intensely loyal group of Volt owners.”

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Spokesman Greg Martin said that of the 6,400 Volt owners, only 33 have requested a loaner.

Personally, if I owned a Volt, I would just request a Chevrolet Corvette or a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe until NHTSA figured things out – but that’s just me.

Refresher: The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press