The Spark EV will do 0 to 60 in under 8 seconds, significantly quicker than the gas model.
General Motors claims its new Chevrolet Spark has captured the U.S. fuel economy crown with a 119 MPGe –– or Miles Per Gallon-equivalent – rating. The new battery-electric vehicle has meanwhile been rated at 82 miles range on a full charge, according to the EPA.
The Spark is the Detroit maker’s first pure battery-electric vehicle, or BEV, since the GM EV1 was pulled from production in 1991. The Chevy Spark EV is part of a wave of new electric vehicles aimed at consumers in California where that state has mandated that manufacturers must sell so-called Zero-Emission Vehicles.
While automakers are challenging that mandate in court, a number of them, including GM, Toyota, Chrysler and Honda and others, are covering their bases by coming up with what critics have dubbed “compliance cars,” vehicles they will offer only, or at least primarily, in California.
The Chevrolet Spark EV at its LA Auto Show debut.
“The Chevrolet Spark EV is a great city car which blends technology, functionality and style in an unexpected package” said Cristi Landy, director of Chevrolet small and electrified vehicle marketing. “We built on the success of the (Chevrolet) Volt and the gas-powered Spark to offer an affordable, fun and efficient mini car our customers will love to drive.”
Compared to a comparable, gas-powered vehicle, Chevrolet claims the Spark EV can potentially save its owners up to $9,000 in fuel cost over five years. The subcompact electric vehicle goes on sale this summer in California and Oregon. The next best competitor, the larger Nissan Leaf, has an equivalent fuel-economy rating of 115 MPGe and a single-charge range of 75 miles.
Critics of electric vehicles, which are legion, say the EVs are too expensive and have only limited range, which limits their appeal and utility. Chrysler chief executive Sergio Marchionne said last week Chrysler expects to lose $10,000 on every electric Fiat 500e it will sell in California.
(Fiat 500e a big money loser. Click Here for that story.)
Nonetheless, executives responsible for selling GM’s EVs remain upbeat. Among other things, they emphasize the Spark EV will actually out-perform the gas-powered version of the minicar.
The Chevrolet Spark EV will set an acceleration benchmark for an urban city electric vehicle – 0-60 mph in under eight seconds due to the mating of a permanent magnet electric motor, which produces more than 100 kW (130 hp), with the coaxial drive unit, she added.
“Being able to provide our customers with the best overall efficiency of any retail EV has always been a key target for the Spark EV engineering team,” said Pam Fletcher, GM executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles. “We’re poised to deliver to the market an EV that’s not just efficient, but also thrilling to drive thanks to the 400 lb-ft torque output of its electric motor.”
(First Drive: Chevrolet Spark EV. Click Here for the review.)
The Spark EV’s 21 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will be backed by an eight-year/ 100,000-miles warranty. The industry has been responding to concerns about long-term battery life and replacement costs by expanding warranties. Nissan, for example, will replace the battery on a Leaf at no charge if it loses more than 30% of its total capacity after five years or 60,000 miles.
Spark EV will be the first vehicle on the market to offer an optional the combo charger for DC Fast Charging that was recently approved by the industry trade organization, the SAE. Using 440-volt power, it will enable the Spark EV to recharge up to 80% of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes. The battery system is capable of handling multiple DC Fast Charges daily.
Though such high-voltage systems will not be available for home use, a number of companies, and numerous municipalities, are setting up quick-charge stations around the country. Tesla, for example, is launching a network of so-called Superchargers along both the East and West Coasts.
Charging the Chevrolet Spark also can be completed in less than seven hours using a dedicated 240V charge. A 120V charge cord set comes standard. Charging, meanwhile, can be managed and monitored remotely using the Spark EV’s smart phone application, provided by OnStar, which is standard for three years.
The motor and drive unit for the Chevy battery car are assembled at GM’s Baltimore operations plant in White Marsh, Maryland. Last week, the plant celebrated the launch of Spark EV motor production, marking the first time a major U.S. auto manufacturer has designed and built both a complete electric motor and drive unit for a modern electric vehicle in the United States.