First Look: 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV

News I By Brandon Turkus I November 27, 2012
With each successive year, the electric vehicle is looking more and more like a realistic alternative to gas. Just take a look at how the segment has expanded, with offerings from Toyota, Honda, Ford, and Nissan. Now, GM is getting back in the EV game, offering an electrified version of the Chevrolet Spark.
 
Called (rather predictably) the Spark EV, it makes a number of appealing claims. After tax incentives, it should cost under $25,000, removing a huge hurdle for potential early adopters. The other big news is the inclusion of DC Fast Charging, allowing the Spark to regain 80 percent of its charge in a mere 20 minutes. Of course, there’s no mention of range, so we have no idea how far that 80-percent charge will take you. The Spark will be fully charged in seven hours on a 240-volt plug. Based on that number, we’d guess anywhere from 14 to 16 for a full charge on a normal wall plug.
 
Still, the Spark EV should be a fun little car to drive, mainly due to its outrageous torque figure. Supposedly, it offers 400 pound-feet of instant-on torque. Along with a more believable 130 horsepower, the Spark EV should hit 60 miles per hour in eight seconds. Based on our experience in the standard Spark, the EV should be about four seconds faster to 60.
 
The Spark EV will initially go on sale in California and Oregon, as well as internationally in Canada and South Korea. We’ll have more on this electrified Spark in the coming months.
 
Please scroll down for the official press release from Chevrolet.
 
Chevrolet Spark EV is Pure, Electric Fun
Competitively priced under $25,000 with tax incentives
 
Expected range among best in EV segment
Advanced, U.S.-built motor and drive unit deliver best-in-class acceleration
Two seven-inch, high-resolution LCD screens display key vehicle functions and infotainment
Initial markets include California, Oregon, Canada, South Korea and other global markets
Optional SAE Combo DC Fast Charging capability enables Spark EV to charge to 80 percent in 20 minutes
 
LOS ANGELES – The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, introduced today ahead of the Los Angeles International Auto Show, packs smart performance and connectivity technologies into an affordable five-door urban mini car designed to make the trip as electrifying as the destination. It will be priced under $25,000 with tax incentives.
 
With the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet accounts for more than 50 percent of all plug-in electric vehicle sales in the United States and Spark EV builds on Chevrolet’s proven electric motor and battery development programs. When it goes on sale next summer, the Spark EV is expected to have among the best EV battery range in its segment and be the first electric vehicle to offer SAE Combo DC Fast Charging capability, enabling the Spark EV to reach 80-percent battery charge in just 20 minutes.
 
“When you engineer a technology-filled, all-electric mini car that goes from zero-to-60 mph in less than eight seconds, customers won’t miss the gas,” said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America. “The Volt and now the Spark EV show that Chevrolet not only knows EVs better than anyone else, we also know how to help customers get the most out of their EV experience.”
 
Inside the Spark EV, critical vehicle functions are clearly and intuitively displayed on one of the vehicle’s two reconfigurable, high-resolution, seven-inch color LCD screens, including a confidence gauge that shows the expected driving range based on driving habits and other conditions.
 
Spark EV also will keep urban drivers musically connected with Chevrolet’s exclusive MyLink radio that comes standard and safely brings smartphone-based infotainment – including apps for BringGo full-function navigation, TuneIn global internet radio, Pandora and Stitcher – into the vehicle. Apple’s Siri will ride shotgun, for customers with compatible (4S and newer) iPhones.
 
In addition to previously announced markets including California and South Korea, Spark EV will also go on sale in participating dealerships throughout Oregon, Canada and other global markets. Spark EV will be eligible for coveted high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in California.
 
The soul of Spark EV
 
Spark EV is powered by an advanced electric motor and battery system. It consists of a GM-designed, coaxial drive unit and electric motor that together deliver 130 hp (110 kW) and 400 lb.-ft. (542 Nm) of torque for instant acceleration; and a more than 20-kWh lithium ion battery is expected to provide among the best EV range performance in its segment.
 
The drive unit and motor will be assembled of U.S. and globally sourced parts at GM’s White Marsh, Md., manufacturing facility, and the first time a U.S. automaker has built both a complete electric motor and drive unit for a modern electric vehicle in the United States.
 
Spark EV’s long-life battery is designed to be safe, durable and reliable, and is warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles. It consists of a 560-pound (254 kg) square lithium-ion battery pack with a volume of 133 liters, comprising 336 prismatic cells.
 
“The Spark EV battery has undergone more than 200,000 hours of testing in our global battery systems labs,” said Pamela Fletcher, Chevrolet executive chief engineer of electrified vehicles. “It is extremely durable and has undergone the same abuse tolerance testing as the Volt battery.”
 
Leading the charge
 
Spark EV is the first all-electric vehicle in North America to offer optional SAE Combo DC Fast Charge capability, which can charge the battery to 80 percent of capacity in about 20 minutes. A common on-board charging receptacle accommodates all three charging platforms – DC Fast Charge, AC 240V and AC 120V.
 
Using a dedicated 240V outlet, Spark EV recharges in less than seven hours. Owners can coordinate charging according to departure time or during off-peak electricity rates. They also can manage and monitor the vehicle remotely via computer at OnStar.com, or with a special Chevrolet Mobile App powered by OnStar Remote Link. The Spark EV comes with three years of standard OnStar service.
 
Energy-saving exterior; tech-filled interior
 
In developing the Spark EV, Chevrolet set out to help customers conserve as much total energy as possible to maximize battery range. One important way to achieve that is by improving the vehicle’s aerodynamics. By evaluating every detail of the gasoline-powered Spark, designers and aerodynamic engineers added the equivalent of about 2.5 miles of real-world range.
 
Spark EV colors include Electric Blue, Black Granite, Summit White, Silver Ice and Titanium. Inside, designers sought to create a comfortable and spacious cockpit with noise-reduction features and a combination of bright accents in Electric Blue and chrome.
 
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year.  Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

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