Friday, June 28, 2013

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV one of the most exclusive electric cars on the market

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV has launched in California and Oregon, selling in limited quantities with a MSRP of $26,685 before a $7,500 federal tax credit. With a range of 80 miles when fully charged, the Spark EV will remain a limited offering through the summer. The Spark EV will offer DC Fast Charging, allowing the car to recharge to 80 percent in about 20 percent.
The Chevrolet Spark EV will be on sale in California and Oregon this summer.
Exclusivity. The word conjures up all manner of things that mere mortals cannot attain—a table at a popular restaurant without reservations, instant entry at the hottest new night club—and a small electric car?
On sale this summer in just two states, California and Oregon, is a car that can't yet be bought in New York, Milan, Munich, Abu Dhabi, or anywhere else—The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV.
This odd bit of exclusivity represents the new industry pinnacle in mass marketed electric vehicle efficiency. The diminutive Spark EV boasts a combined city/highway range of over 80 miles when fully charged. This works out to nearly 120 mpg equivalent according to the federal government. It is estimated by General Motors that the the Spark EV could, over five years, save its potential owners well over $8.000 in fuel expenditures. If the car is truly capable of such a feat in the real world remains to be seen, but with an eight year, 100,000 mile warranty on its L-Ion battery pack, the buyers will have every opportunity to put the Spark EV through its paces.
Despite the development and sales difficulties GM has faced with the larger Volt, the company has pressed forward with the smaller Spark EV, which unlike the regular Spark and the Volt, is not a hybrid at all.
The Spark EV has an oil cooled 100kW DC motor at its heart, utilizing coaxial drive. The BHP equivalent works to 130 horses and a stunning 400 ft.-lbs of torque. GM says that the Spark EV will be capable of posting a 0-60 time of under eight seconds.
Plug it in! The Spark EV will have optional DC Fast Charging capability, letting it charge up to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 20 minutes.
To put these performance figures into perspective the gasoline powered Spark, with its 1.2L inline four cylinder engine generates only 84 BHP at a lofty 6,400 rpm and only 83 ft.-lbs of maximum torque. With the EV you may be limited in range, but you'll be able to blow the doors off of any other econobox on the road today. Again, it is a strange sort of exclusivity.
Fortunately, for those who will come to like stomping the "go" pedal on that prodigious torque, the Spark EV will shortly be offering what is called "DC Fast Charging." This optional feature, when installed in an owner's home, will enable the Spark EV to charge up to 80 percent battery capacity in about 20 minutes. Best of all, the Spark EV's battery pack is designed to absorb multiple such charges per day. If your circumstances don't permit the rapid charger, standard dedicated household 240 volt charging can still be completed in less than seven hours.
However, only a 120V charging cord comes as standard equipment, so you will pay extra for comparatively rapid charging. No matter which method is employed, it will be manageable via using the Spark EV’s standard smart phone application which is offered through OnStar free of charge for three years.
Can the Spark EV succeed where the Volt has struggled? With GM offering a $199.00 per month leasing option, expect the Spark EV to break out of its test markets sooner than later.

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