NHTSA Scrutinizes Safety of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles

Regulators are examining the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles after a Chevrolet Volt caught fire at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing center in Wisconsin. The investigation has raised concerns about the risk of fires in vehicles equipped with these batteries. All major automakers, including General Motors, Nissan, and Ford, have been approached by regulators with questions about the batteries' fire risk.

Key Takeaways:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the safety of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles after a Chevrolet Volt caught fire at a testing center in Wisconsin.
The fire occurred three weeks after the vehicle underwent a side-impact crash test and was severe enough to damage surrounding vehicles.
Investigators determined that the battery was the source of the fire, and a similar investigation is underway in Mooresville, N.C., after a fire occurred in a residential garage where a Volt was charging.
General Motors and NHTSA have attempted to replicate the fire, but were unsuccessful, according to a GM spokesman.
NHTSA has approached all major automakers that sell or plan to sell vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, including General Motors, Nissan, and Ford, to discuss the batteries' fire risk.

Statistics:

One Chevrolet Volt caught fire in June at a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing center in Wisconsin.
The fire occurred three weeks after the vehicle underwent a side-impact crash test.
NHTSA has sent a team of investigators to Mooresville, N.C., to probe a fire in a residential garage where a Volt was charging.
Automakers General Motors, Nissan, and Ford have been approached by regulators to discuss the fire risk of lithium-ion batteries.

Sources:

Bloomberg News