The NHTSA is satisfied with General Motors' recently announced Chevy Volt modifications. The Agency will close its investigation soon.

As we've discussed on PluginCars.com, concerns about a fire breaking out in a wrecked Chevy Volt have been blown out of proportion. After all, researchers discovered the possibility of a fire occurring under unlikely circumstances in a lab setting weeks after the crash. The threat from the beginning has always been more about how GM's handling of the episode would affect perception of EV safety, rather than the reality. Repeat after me: Electric cars are very safe—gasoline cars are much more likely to catch fire. Now that US safety regulators, including representatives from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are satisfied with the set of Chevrolet Volt modifications detailed last week by General Motors, can the episode be put behind us?

NHTSA administrator, David Strickland, in an interview prior to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, stated, "[General Motors] really did put customers first." Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is "happy" with GM's handling of the issue pertaining to the safety of the Chevy Volt after a severe side-impact collision. Satisfied with General Motors' modifications, the NHTSA will "conclude its investigation soon," according to Strickland.

Modifications to the Chevy Volt include reinforcing the vehicle's center tunnel area to distribute energy more evenly during a side-impact crash, adding a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels, and fitting a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to prevent overfilling.

A clean bill of health from NHTSA or any other agency is unlikely to stop the Anti-EV crowd from continuing to make unsupported statements about fires and electric cars. Only time will make those claims fade away. At this point, the collateral damage to the EV movement appears to be minimal. Let's move on.