Chevrolet Spark Electric Car

The Chevrolet Spark EV is anticipated to set a benchmark in performance for an urban city electric car and is powered by the most advanced electric motor and battery system General Motors has ever built.

“The Spark EV is a fun-to-drive zero-emission city car with intelligent connectivity. We believe it will resonate  particularly in some of Europe’s most technologically advanced markets,”

says Susan Docherty, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet and Cadillac Europe.

“Just like Volt, this nimble battery-powered vehicle is a proof point for Chevrolet’s ingenuity in delivering smart mobility solutions.”

Advanced propulsion system key to speedy take-off, competitive range

Its sports-car-like acceleration and smooth, yet instantaneous torque of 542 Nm make the Spark EV a small car with enjoyable driving dynamics. The heart of the Spark EV’s propulsion system is its GM-designed permanent magnet electric motor. It delivers more than 130 hp (100 kW) and will enable 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 8.5 seconds.

The Spark EV will be equipped with a lithium-ion battery system of more than 20 kWh that operates with the help of an active liquid cooling and heating system. Thanks to the sophisticated technology of its battery pack, the Spark EV is expected to achieve an electric range that is among the best in its class. The battery pack has been engineered to enable both regular alternate current (AC) and direct current (DC) fast charging.

DC fast charging will allow the car to recharge up to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes. Moreover, the battery system is capable of handling multiple DC fast charges daily. AC recharging requires between 6 and 8 hours, using a 230V outlet. A charge cord set is standard.

Cutting-edge connectivity makes driving easier and more fun

The Spark EVwas designed to look edgy and expressive. Among the most prominent aspects of its stylish interior is a column-mounted instrument cluster that features one of two large seven-inch full-color LCD screens. The other display is located in the center stack and serves as the interface for infotainment, cabin climate controls and energy-efficiency data.

The Spark EV will come with the Chevrolet MyLink connected radio technology as standard, which allows users to connect compatible smartphones to the radio with its high resolution touch screen. Chevrolet MyLink will support a number of select of apps which will allow users to navigate using their smartphone, and listen to radio stations around the world through the internet. A rear-view camera will provide assistance when the car is in reverse.

In addition, MyLink users who own a compatible iPhone* (as of 4S) running iOS6 will be able to utilize Siri, an advanced assist system, to perform a number of tasks while they safely keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

From the original Chevrolet press release when the Spark was first introduced;

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV packs smart performance and connectivity technologies into an affordable five-door urban mini car designed to make any trip as electrifying as the destination.  It will be priced under $25,000 (approx. £16,450) with tax incentives in the US.

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, 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 (160,934 km). 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 7 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 maximise 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.

* Siri requires Internet access. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Cellular data charges may apply.

Source; Chevrolet