  2014 Chevrolet Spark EV. Click image to enlarge |
| Manufacturer’s Website Chevrolet Canada |
Let’s begin this preview by mentioning that the Spark EV will not be coming to Canada as a consumer vehicle; at least not to start. When it crosses our border next year it will be available for fleet sales only while GM evaluates the pros and cons of offering it, and more importantly supporting it, across Canada. This decision is easily understandable as the Spark EV is going to be released in select, densely populated markets in the USA to begin with. Canada would make a hard sell as an initial rollout market since our country is so large and thinly populated; which is unfortunate as the Spark EV sounds fabulous for electric vehicle fans.
Chevrolet is under an ambitious resurgence that will see 13 new and/or heavily updated models appear in the next year. Included in this model rollout was their all-new city car, the Chevrolet Spark. The Spark slots below the sub-compact Sonic in Chevrolet’s model hierarchy and has been exceeding USA sales targets ever since it went on sale. Now, Chevrolet is ready to release the second variant of the Spark in an all-electric form.
To achieve this transformation, the Spark loses its gasoline engine and fuel tank. In their place reside a GM designed oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor and two-piece A123 battery. The battery consists of a square 254-kg lithium-ion battery pack with a volume of 133 litres comprised of 336 prismatic cells and is larger than the one found in the Chevrolet Volt. It provides the juice to power the coaxial drive unit and electric motor that together deliver 130 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Yes, this high-voltage city car has more torque than a Ford Mustang GT. As a direct result of this, Chevrolet expects the Spark EV will deliver a fun-to-drive experience with acceleration times from 0–100 km/h well under eight seconds.
Chevrolet also expects this battery and motor combination will allow the Spark EV’s range to fall in line, at the higher end, of that achieved by its chief rivals, the Ford Focus EV, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Nissan Leaf. As with any electric vehicle, any HVAC operation will reduce the range in the Spark EV. The air conditioning also runs off the main propulsion battery and will further reduce range when used. Power steering and all other accessories, like the infotainment unit, run off a smaller, conventional car battery.
