Holden Volt: Engineered and Built to be Strong and Safe
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Dec 12, 2011: There is much more to the
Holden Volt than its revolutionary propulsion system, Volt also boasts
advanced levels of strength, safety and quietness.
The Volt’s body-frame-integral structure mixes advanced steels to
ensure outstanding crashworthiness and stiffness. In fact, about 80 percent
of the Volt’s body-in-white structure is constructed of
high-strength, advanced high-strength or ultra high-strength steel designed
to provide superior protection in a crash.
The five-door Volt’s body structure rivals the best entries in the
segment. The solid structure enables fine-tuning of chassis components to
ensure a dynamic nimbleness unexpected of an electric vehicle.
The stiff structure also enables acoustic tuning to isolate the cabin
from engine, road and wind noise.
Strong, efficient structure
Volt mixes some of the strongest
materials in the industry – including Boron, Martensite, Dual Phase
and high-strength, low-alloy steels – to blend efficiency, strength
and crashworthiness.
Ultra high-strength Boron steel is applied from
the base of the front pillar to the base of the rear pillar, enabling
exceptional roof crush performance; as well as in the centre pillar for
side-impact performance and rollover support. A shear plate constructed
of high-strength steel is MIG-welded within the upper centre pillar, which
helps ensure exceptional rollover performance and upper body structure
stiffness. The inner and outer portions of the rocker panel are
constructed of ultra high-strength Martensite steel from wheel to wheel for
side-impact protection. Mass-optimised front rails are made of ultra
high-strength Dual Phase steel for superior front-impact performance. The
longitudinal rails incorporate a laser-welded mix of Dual Phase steels for
impact performance and weight considerations. To protect Volt’s
battery, located in the centre tunnel in the vehicle, ultra high-strength
Martensite support rails run in tandem down the centre floor line. It also
defines the upper portion of the tunnel as well as the forward plate of the
tunnel at the dash panel. At the rear of the tunnel, a high-strength,
low-alloy steel plate is applied.
Volt provides safety before, during, and after a crash
On top
of its strong structure, Volt includes a comprehensive list of standard
crash-avoidance, occupant protection, including eight standard air bags,
and post-crash technologies.
Chassis control technologies such as anti-lock brakes, traction control
and StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement help drivers avoid crashes in
certain emergency manoeuvre situations.
More than 50 crash tests at various speeds and angles were conducted in
the development of Volt, including front, side and rear impacts as well as
rollovers. Volt provides these standard safety technologies:
Eight
standard air bags including dual-stage driver and passenger air bags; front
driver and passenger knee air bags to help mitigate lower leg injuries;
roof rail side-curtain air bags extend over both seating rows for
side-impact and rollover protection; and seat-mounted thorax and pelvic
side air bags Rollover sensing and protection system Tip-up sensors
proactively predict tip-up on a flat surface and apply brake force to the
outside front and rear wheels to reduce lateral force in the vehicle.
Interior head-impact protection in the pillars, headliner and roof
rails Adjustable head restraints for whiplash protection in rear
impacts Collapsible pedal assembly to protect against lower leg
injuries Three-point seatbelts in all four seating positions
Seatbelt shoulder belt retractor and lap belt pre-tensioners in the
driver and front passenger positions Anti-lock brakes, traction control
and StabiliTrak electronic stability control
Due to Volt’s quietness when in all-electric mode, it takes
pedestrian safety into account, with a driver-activated feature that makes
a chirping sound to warn nearby pedestrians.