Chevrolet Spark EV by 2013

Eco-friendly car buyers throughout the U.S. everyone is apprehensively awaiting the release of Chevy’s newest subcompact car, the Spark, which debuts in late-2012. However even before it can debut the gasoline version of its latest micro-car, even Chevrolet announced that testing has begun on the electric-only variant of the Spark, which is due out in 2013.
These newest EVs testing is happening in Torrence, California, six EV Sparks are driven by a group of engineers roughly 62 miles per day. The engineers are unable to get into the technical goodies, such as motor size and output, transmissions, driving range, or any other mechanics, but basically said that the new EV Spark is about 65% through the engineering phase and still has some bugs to work out.
When the Chevy Spark EV finally debuts, it has some tuft competition in the form of the Nissan Leaf, CODA sedan, Ford Focus Electric, and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, not to mention the numerous hybrids in the market. Based on the current EV market, we can speculate that the new Spark EV’s electric motor into the horsepower 60 to 80 ranges it will fall and the 125 to 140 pound-feet area. To even be considered an option, the Spark will have to beat i-MiEV’s class trailing 62-mile range. Taking the paltry 62 miles per day the engineers are driving these test cars and the existing Volt’s 30-mile battery range, Chevy has some serious catching up to do before its 2013 release.
In order to stay competitive, the Spark EV will likely range in the mid- to high-$20K range, which is where i-MiEV is positioned. This include EV competition from Chevy can be nothing short of a good thing, as the more EV choices customers have, the lower prices gets reduced and the more likely that EVs will become realistic options for the middle class buyer. We will continue to offer more updates on the Spark EV’s testing process and eventual specifications as they become available.Automobile News