There's been a lot of activity lately about a crash test that was done and then 3 weeks later, when the batteries were never discharged as they should have been, there was a fire. GM has contacted me by email and even overnight FedEx giving me lots of options, up to and including turning my car back in to GM if I am afraid of it. I will be doing no such thing, of course, but it's been interesting to hear some news shows who have the story so screwed up that one crash test has turned into "several" that resulted in fires. Gotta love the local news writers. In any case, there is a nice article that someone on Facebook told me about, linked here, that kinds sums up the reality a little better. (Thanks Stefan!) It is pretty universally understood by anyone with any sense that if a car is involved in a crash, you remove all fuel as soon as possible, and get the car inspected. If it's not going to be repaired, you don't drop it off at the crusher with a tank of gas or whatever it uses for fuel, in this case a battery full of electrons. There are some things to get used to on cars that run primarily on electricity, and everyone from first responders to tow truck drivers need to learn some new rules. But really, it comes down to many of the same principles you would apply to any car. Hundreds of thousands of cars burn every year. a tank full of gas is highly explosive, as anyone who remembers the Ford Pinto can tell you. Come to think of it, I saw a late model Ford pickup that self ignited and was burning just a few houses away from ours a couple months ago. Not that Fords are the only cars that burn.
It's always good to review the facts (not the crap on the news) and be careful if something is questionable. If some new procedures and training come of this, then it's all good. No one has been harmed and hopefully we can keep it that way.
car and driver blog
No comments:
Post a Comment