Comment From Fulgerite:
Can you tell us approx. how many real world crashes that your technicians have responded to so far?
Jim Federico:
Fulgerite, we have responded to approximately six real world crashes severe enough for us to depower the battery. After review of all six we have been very pleased on how the Volt has performed in customer safety when considering the severity of the accident.
----------------------
Comment From Bill Gerth:
Is a non-conductive coolant being considered as a later upgrade? Is this a cost issue or one of thermal properties?
Doug Parks:
Bill, all coolants have some level of conductivity. We have examined other coolants with less conductivity, but they have negative long-term thermal properties that do not meet our specifications.
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Comment From Fulgerite:
I understand why it may not be feasible to retrofit existing batteries with conformal coating on the circuit boards... But you should consider protecting the circuit boards from coolant on future designs.
Doug Parks:
Our circuit boards in our batteries do have conformal coatings. All I can say is this was a rare event of coolant interacting with the circuit boards and connectors. This is why we feel it is important to prevent coolant leakage into the system.
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Comment From John Sobecki:
Any comments on the future Voltec family? Spark? Equinox class or compact 4x4 SUV?
Jim Federico:
John - love that you have questions about future product but if we told you we'd have to kill you. Stay tuned.
(Last one included for the humor.)
Can you tell us approx. how many real world crashes that your technicians have responded to so far?
Jim Federico:
Fulgerite, we have responded to approximately six real world crashes severe enough for us to depower the battery. After review of all six we have been very pleased on how the Volt has performed in customer safety when considering the severity of the accident.
----------------------
Comment From Bill Gerth:
Is a non-conductive coolant being considered as a later upgrade? Is this a cost issue or one of thermal properties?
Doug Parks:
Bill, all coolants have some level of conductivity. We have examined other coolants with less conductivity, but they have negative long-term thermal properties that do not meet our specifications.
----------------------
Comment From Fulgerite:
I understand why it may not be feasible to retrofit existing batteries with conformal coating on the circuit boards... But you should consider protecting the circuit boards from coolant on future designs.
Doug Parks:
Our circuit boards in our batteries do have conformal coatings. All I can say is this was a rare event of coolant interacting with the circuit boards and connectors. This is why we feel it is important to prevent coolant leakage into the system.
----------------------
Comment From John Sobecki:
Any comments on the future Voltec family? Spark? Equinox class or compact 4x4 SUV?
Jim Federico:
John - love that you have questions about future product but if we told you we'd have to kill you. Stay tuned.
(Last one included for the humor.)
