(November 30, 2011) DETROIT — General Motors is moving quickly to head off potential public relations problems connected to the Chevrolet Volt's lithium-ion batteries, which have come under scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

General Motors announced Monday initiatives for customer satisfaction and battery safety research to ensure ongoing confidence in the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. One of the initiatives is the offer of a loaner car to any concerned buyer.

(November 29, 2011) DETROIT — Imagine heating a building covering 22 Manhattan city blocks or 120 football fields and you understand the task faced by the Metrolina Greenhouses. Helping Metrolina convert its heat source from natural gas to renewable biomass is part of Chevrolet’s commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

(November 28, 2011) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating fires involving the lithium-ion batteries in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt after another fire last week.

One Volt battery pack that was being closely monitored following a government crash test caught fire Thursday, the NHTSA said in a statement Friday. Another recently crash-tested battery emitted smoke and sparks, the statement said.

(November 28, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford wants to innovate the way vehicle windshields are installed through a new patented process that makes the attachment less costly, simpler and more eco-conscious than current practices.
 
One patent covers cleaning and activating the edge of the windshield glass in less than 10 seconds. A second Ford patent covers the application of a plasma-reacted nano-coating that modifies the surface for bonding of the adhesive that holds the windshield in place. The entire patented process takes less than one minute.