General Motors is offering to exchange the 120-volt recharging lead supplied to US buyers of its Chevrolet Volt with a new, upgraded cord said to be more reliable, durable and to provide a more consistent charge.
A spokesman said Volt owners can make the exchange when they take their car into a dealership for a battery upgrade that followed two vehicle fires after batteries were punctured in crash tests.
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Federal safety regulators closed their investigation of the fires after GM announced plans to strengthen the battery pack casing and install sensors to detect leaking battery fluid.
Volt owners will be informed by mail of the offer to exchange the power cord. The range extender electric car has got off to a slower sales start than expected with GM falling short of its goal to sell 10,000 Volts last year, achieving 7,671.
Earlier this month, the company said it would halt production at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant for five weeks because of limited demand.
To the end of February, GM had sold 1,626 Volts in 2012.
