General Motors has announced that it will buy Chevrolet Volts back from any owner who is afraid the electric cars will catch fire.

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G-M CEO Dan Akerson insists the cars are safe, but the company will purchase the Volts because it wants to keep customers happy. Three fires have broken out in Volts after side-impact crash tests done by the federal government.

Akerson also says if necessary, GM will recall all of the more than 6,000 Volts now on the road in the U.S. and repair them at no cost once the company and federal safety regulators figure out what caused the fires.

"If we find that is the solution, we will retrofit every one of them," Akerson said. "We'll make it right."

The Volt can go about 35 miles on battery power before a small gasoline generator kicks in to keep the car running. The battery can be recharged from a standard electrical outlet.

GM has offered free loaner cars to all Volt owners until the cause of the fires is found and fixed, but so far only 16 Volt owners have inquired about it, and only two have taken the loaners.

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