An Open Letter from Volt Owners: “Why are Chevy Volt Owners Keeping Their Keys?”

[Jeffvolt349]

To Whom It May Concern:

In light of the recent news stories in the press concerning the Chevy Volt, the Volt owners would like to set the record straight.

We are keeping the keys to our Volt. We love our Volt and we feel safe driving our Volt.

We have done our homework and we know that we know that there is no other car that offers all the advantages of a Volt. We take pleasure in the smooth driving experience. We get a thrill from the high torque performance. We feel at ease in its comfortable elegance. Perhaps most of all, we love the convenience and affordability of driving on electricity everyday and having the option of a back-up gas generator for long distances. This is the beauty of extended-range electric drive – it’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s the future that’s available today.

Volt owners are glad that NHTSA, GM, and other manufacturers have developed protocols to handle electric cars in a variety of circumstances. This is standard procedure with gas-powered cars and trucks as well. Just as it is necessary to empty a gas tank after a major impact, it is necessary to deplete a battery after a major impact. This is a simple and straightforward process and Volt owners feel assured knowing that government and industry is working together to ensure this technology succeeds for us as consumers and citizens.

Lastly, we encourage every driver in this country to test drive a plug-in electric car for him or herself. There is only one way to really know the electric car experience – and that is to drive one.

We are leading the way for a new movement in America – a movement to bring the joy back in driving, save money, and invest in our future. We look forward to you joining us.

Sincerely,

Chevy Volt Drivers

[voltage692]

As a general rule -- always speak for yourself.

I'm still trying to figure out what all this means to me personally. There are probably only about 60 Volt owners actively expressing their thoughts day to day on this board, so don't tell me every Volt owner's stance is represented here and I am the only one that deviates.

There's a lot of aspects about this whole situation that many have clearly not thought through. I personally currently have over $50K invested in this car, and that's a lot of money which doesn't even begin to account for the safety of my passengers and me.

To Whom It May Concern:

In light of the recent news stories in the press concerning the Chevy Volt, the Volt owners would like to set the record straight.

We are keeping the keys to our Volt. We love our Volt and we feel safe driving our Volt.

We have done our homework and we know that we know that there is no other car that offers all the advantages of a Volt. We take pleasure in the smooth driving experience. We get a thrill from the high torque performance. We feel at ease in its comfortable elegance. Perhaps most of all, we love the convenience and affordability of driving on electricity everyday and having the option of a back-up gas generator for long distances. This is the beauty of extended-range electric drive – it’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s the future that’s available today.

Volt owners are glad that NHTSA, GM, and other manufacturers have developed protocols to handle electric cars in a variety of circumstances. This is standard procedure with gas-powered cars and trucks as well. Just as it is necessary to empty a gas tank after a major impact, it is necessary to deplete a battery after a major impact. This is a simple and straightforward process and Volt owners feel assured knowing that government and industry is working together to ensure this technology succeeds for us as consumers and citizens.

Lastly, we encourage every driver in this country to test drive a plug-in electric car for him or herself. There is only one way to really know the electric car experience – and that is to drive one.

We are leading the way for a new movement in America – a movement to bring the joy back in driving, save money, and invest in our future. We look forward to you joining us.

Sincerely,

Chevy Volt Drivers

[Noel Park]

Amen Brother. Preach on!

[jackphillips]

Voltage692,

Please.... you have to be kidding. If you are afraid of this nonsense then be afraid to drive at all!!!

The only people that should be concerned about this test are the body shops that store the vehicle for repair where it may sit for a while after an accident.

Would you place a ICE in a garage after it was hit and it was leaking gas?????

[voltage692]

We don't have ALL the facts yet. I know what we have been told so far, but I also know that Akerson said in an video interview that there are "concerns" GM had with the results that they share with the NHTSA that need to be addressed. However, he failed to elaborate on those "concerns."

So you better be kidding me or you're kidding yourself to have made your final decision without the all the facts.

Voltage692,

Please.... you have to be kidding. If you are afraid of this nonsense then be afraid to drive at all!!!

The only people that should be concerned about this test are the body shops that store the vehicle for repair where it may sit for a while after an accident.

Would you place a ICE in a garage after it was hit and it was leaking gas?????

[jamesjcm]

I think the gentleman from an earlier post said it best when he qouted Charlton Heston

[bonaire]

I have to telepath Ackerson on this, but his "concerns" remark tied in with his remark about the pack being breached 5" or whatever it was and we have to think that they are looking deeper into "impact issues" where cells or packs are punctured/breached/bent/shorted/etc. Definitely no concerns on day to day regular usage. I think they want to make sure that any accident that leads to a pack being breached does not cause any excess risk beyond a normal ICE experience.

[Steverino]

Based on what I know, I am not concerned. That could change upon new information.

Remember a few years ago, when people were burning down gas stations by filling gas cans in the plastic liner bed of pickups, or by getting in and out of their car while refueling? Static electricity was sparking the gas fumes. It made the news, people where told to discharge body static by touching the metal gas pump housing. Notice the no smoking signs posted around gas pumps? There are a bunch of safety issues we deal with when it comes to gasoline. Never had them with horses!

So if electric cars need to have their batteries discharged and analyzed after a crash, it's just more of the same in my opinion. It's just that people have come to expect and understand gas as flammable. They have come to treat it with some caution. Electric batteries are new, that's all.

[mustardman]

As a general rule -- always speak for yourself.

I'm still trying to figure out what all this means to me personally. There are probably only about 60 Volt owners actively expressing their thoughts day to day on this board, so don't tell me every Volt owner's stance is represented here and I am the only one that deviates.

There's a lot of aspects about this whole situation that many have clearly not thought through. I personally currently have over $50K invested in this car, and that's a lot of money which doesn't even begin to account for the safety of my passengers and me.

Then get informed or sell it. Nuff said. There is more than enough info out there to tell you everything you need to know. You might want to look into crash and burn statistics of regular ole gas cars btw. Thought I would leave that bread crumb for ya because I think you need it.

[voltage692]

I have to telepath Ackerson on this, but his "concerns" remark tied in with his remark about the pack being breached 5" or whatever it was and we have to think that they are looking deeper into "impact issues" where cells or packs are punctured/breached/bent/shorted/etc. Definitely no concerns on day to day regular usage. I think they want to make sure that any accident that leads to a pack being breached does not cause any excess risk beyond a normal ICE experience.

Thanks for the speculation, but you do know what it's worth to me and this discussion, don't you?