Federal officials say they are investigating the safety of lithium-ion batteries in General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Volt after a second battery fire following crash-testing of the electric car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that three Volt battery packs were crash-tested last week. In one instance, the battery caught fire afterward, and in another the battery emitted smoke and sparks. Last May, a fire erupted in the battery of a Chevy Volt that had been damaged during a government crash test three weeks earlier. Last week’s tests were an attempt to replicate the May fire.
Greece election to be later than planned
A junior partner in Greece’s new interim government said Friday the next national election might be held later than planned to allow the coalition to complete its mandate. Giorgos Karatzaferis, leader of the right-wing populist LAOS party, said the three-party coalition is finding it difficult to operate under the “very tight deadline” set when the government was formed Nov. 11. For that reason, he said, it may hold the next national vote later than Feb. 19, the date it provisionally agreed to.
Everett group honors Woman of the Year
Greater Everett Business &Professional Women will recognize its Woman of the Year at a no-host lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Prohibition Grille, 1414 Hewitt Ave., Everett. Honored will be April Wolfe, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. Rishi Brown will be keynote speaker. The group will network at the restaurant from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15.
Iceland officials reject China resort developer
Iceland’s government has rejected an application by a Chinese entrepreneur to purchase land for a resort development. The government said Friday that the company controlled by Huang Nubo did not meet Iceland’s legal requirements, and that there was no precedent for any foreign country acquiring so much land. Huang Nubo, a former Chinese government official, had sought to buy 120 square miles of land on the north shore. Huang’s representative in Iceland, Halldor Johannsson, said he was surprised by the decision and that there was nothing in Icelandic law specifically about the size of a parcel of land to be purchased for development.
Architects to develop new Habitat model
A Kansas City architectural firm is partnering with a Habitat for Humanity organization to create a new energy-efficient model for the affordable-housing program. The project is one of five pilot efforts across the nation. It is intended to promote some new ideas for affordable housing. The prototype house would incorporate energy-efficient techniques of ventilation and shading as well as rainwater collection for gardening and a design that extends interior spaces to the outdoors.
From Herald news services
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