[kdawg3]

and sport an 85-kilowatt (114-horsepower) electric motor.
------------------

For a car as small as the Spark, that's some power, and 100% torque at 0RPM, I bet this has some punch off the line. I would be curious to what the 0-60mph is, and the 0-30.

 

[haroldc]

Just make the damn things so we can buy them!!!!
Are you listening , GM ?????
HaroldC

 

[therfman]

I saw a few sparks when vacationing in Saint Lucia last month. They're pretty small cars; these will be competing with the Mistubishi i-Miev, not the leaf.

It seems that they've put in a rather powerful motor in there, and much of that power may not be utilized in this mainly urban car. I wonder if they did it to maximize regen, not acceleration.

Hopefully the Spark EV comes in cheap enough to be a viable second car. There was some hope for the i-Miev, but the price point doesn't support it, especially with the new Prius c coming in at around 20k$ (here in Canada). Get the Spark EV at 25-26k$, and it'll sell pretty well with the current rebates and credits.

 

[Neromancer]

I have a fairly new 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. My wife just got her license. A Volt for me awesome as it may be is too expensive for us at this time. The Spark EV if priced right might make a great second vehicle and i'm very interested.

When it comes time to replace the Caravan I hope GM will have a Voltec MPV by then.

Also I have seen the Spark at a few autoshows and saw some reviews of the Spark in Australia and despite the small foot print of the car it is actually quite spacious.

 

[jim1961]

This is off topic but while vacationing in Florida I picked up a newspaper and saw an ad for leasing a Volt for $299 per month. That's a price I can afford. I might be driving a Volt soon if I can find a similar deal closer to home. (St. Louis, Missouri)

 

[George S. Bower]

If GM can bring us a this Spark EV at a PRICE LESS than the Leaf with MORE RANGE than the Leaf (100 miles is good) and MORE acceleration than the Leaf it is a winner for sure.

I am very excited about this little car!!

 

[kdawg3]

The Sparks phosphate based A123 battery is supposidly *safer* than the Volt's, but I think most of us here aren't too concerned about the fire non-sense. I'm curious if GM will use the same type of liquid cooling system, and how the cells will be arranged. This picture shows what looks like coolant lines. If this box-style battery arrangement works, I wonder if it could be used for something like the MP5V, or if they would go with the surfboard-style. Lots of options.

 

[volt111]

It sure looks like a lot of stuff under the hood, not much different than the Volt. Given that the Spark has no ICE, I'm not sure I get that. I'm also slightly concerned that the battery is way out back, as far as weight distribution. But I expect good engineering from GM, and I'm sure they'll deliver.

Has there been any word yet on charge time, or if it will support a 6.6Kw charge? I really hope it does. I also wonder if this A123 battery pack shows future direction for Volt 1.5 or 2.0?

If this car can undercut the i-Miev on price and go further on a charge, Chevy could have a real winner on its hands. I also like the fact that introducing this car shows continued commitment from GM for electrification, and the Volt isn't just some token image car.

 

[statik7]

HaroldC : Just make the damn things so we can buy them!!!!Are you listening , GM ?????HaroldC

The whole REVA-India hates EVs mentality has certainly influenced the production of the electric version of this car. (2010 e-Spark anyone?)

Have you ever heard GM once mention where it will be built now? Or how the facility is doing? Its like it will be built in a secret underground layer.

I'd imagine they had designs to build it centrally out of Talegaon (India) to market it as a global car...but it feels like it has been forced to South Korea now (just a WAG).

They are saying the car is out in 2013, and it is certainly coming, but it has to be way late into 2013 I imagine. I've not seen anything of significance out of A123 (battery for the car) about supply either at this point, other than a huge revenue jump estimate for Q4 of 2012 which one would imagine has to be GM.

Nickel for anyone who gets confirmation on where the production facility is, lol.

 

[Alligam]

For those looking for an MPV, the re-incarnation of the Saturn Vue comes up quite frequently since they did have a Hybrid version. I can confirm that Chevy is continuing to make the Saturn Vue, they call it the Chevy Captiva. This car is not for sale to the general public, but is a fleet car that I happened to rent from Hertz in San Diego. I thought it was a nice little vehicle and, since my wife would like to replace her minivan with a crossover/small SUV, I investigated and found that it is a fleet only car. Then, a few days later, I parked next to a Hybrid Saturn Vue -- the cars were IDENTICAL! With the high floor/seating position, I'd imagine that an 85KW battery pack would fit with very little changes to the exterior appearance. Add an optimized range extender and we would have a 50-60 mile EV range VOLT MPV.

 

[kdawg3]

statik : Nickel for anyone who gets confirmation on where the production facility is, lol.

I find it interesting that Fisker could get DOE money to build a small EV in an old GM plant, but GM will build it's EV elsewhere. I guess the DOE could make the same offer to GM, but I think they've wore out their welcome for Gov. $.

 

[George S. Bower]

statik : The whole REVA-India hates EVs mentality has certainly influenced the production of the electric version of this car.(2010 e-Spark anyone?)


Have you ever heard GM once mention where it will be built now?Or how the facility is doing?Its like it will be built in a secret underground layer.


I’d imagine they had designs to build it centrally out of Talegaon (India) to market it as a global car…but it feels like it has been forced to South Korea now (just a WAG).


They are saying the car is out in 2013, and it is certainly coming, but it has to be way late into 2013 I imagine.I’ve not seen anything of significance out of A123 (battery for the car) about supply either at this point, other than a huge revenue jump estimate for Q4 of 2012 which one would imagine has to be GM.


Nickel for anyone who gets confirmation on where the production facility is, lol.
my dreams are crushed.

 

[Sasparilla1]

There's alot of questions to be answered on the Spark EV.

The original design had a ~19kWh battery pack - (Leaf is 24kWh & Focus Electric is 23kWh) meaning they'd be using almost all of the battery capacity to get that 100 mile range (bad effects long term on usable capacity and range) - this would be the opposite of what GM did with the Volt pack capacity.

Hopefully GM has raised the pack size in the mean time, we'll just have to wait.

I wish the team that was pushing the E-Volt EV option (Lutz and Co.) had carried the day compared to this little vehicle. This metro vehicle is such a far cry from the Volt or the EV1.

If GM has increased the size of the pack so you don't start loosing noticeable range after a couple of years of use then I'll be much happier with GM's choices (the inside displays are very nice).

 

[kdawg3]

Magilla : I can confirm that Chevy is continuing to make the Saturn Vue, they call it the Chevy Captiva.

Did you Wiki the Captiva? Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Captiva

It's a x-over from GM Daewoo (Korea)
Looks like its only marketd in Asia/Australia/New Zealand

 

[kdawg3]

There's a good article is this month's Design News on the wiring & connector challenges for designers of cars like the Spark EV, Leaf, and iMiev.

Here's the link: http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1366&doc_id=239663

From the article:
High Voltage Amps Up the Automobile

Cables, which in most cases had a cross-sectional area of about 25mm2, are now looking at more than 75mm2. To put it another way, wire diameter has jumped from about one-eighth of an inch to three-fourths of an inch.

"The wires are much, much bigger," Rand Wilburn, global marketing manager for the cable and interconnect supplier Molex, told us. "It's not only the amount of copper in the cable. It's the amount of shielding that it needs."

For engineers -- who are already struggling to find space around the engine, transaxle, and traction motor -- the prospect of thicker cables raises yet another packaging issue under the hood. Now they must consider how to route the cables, which have a wire braid or foil around them and therefore are less flexible than their skinny predecessors.

 

[statik7]

Sasparilla : There’s alot of questions to be answered on the Spark EV. The original design had a ~19kWh battery pack – (Leaf is 24kWh & Focus Electric is 23kWh) meaning they’d be using almost all of the battery capacity to get that 100 mile range (bad effects long term on usable capacity and range) – this would be the opposite of what GM did with the Volt pack capacity.Hopefully GM has raised the pack size in the mean time, we’ll just have to wait.I wish the team that was pushing the E-Volt EV option (Lutz and Co.) had carried the day compared to this little vehicle. This metro vehicle is such a far cry from the Volt or the EV1.If GM has increased the size of the pack so you don’t start loosing noticeable range after a couple of years of use then I’ll be much happier with GM’s choices (the inside displays are very nice).

Battery is a 20 kWh full package from A123.

Unlike the Volt setup, A123 is doing all the work from cells to the enclosure, all the battery management electronics, thermal management, etc.

Sidenote: I'd be surprised if it is EPA rated inline with the LEAF/Focus. Whatever you consider the LEAF/Focus range to be, I think 10-15% less would be an appropriate assumption here. This car is being built with a global focus...so think cheaper and shorter.

 

[pjk447]

Magilla :
For those looking for an MPV, the re-incarnation of the Saturn Vue comes up quite frequently since they did have a Hybrid version.I can confirm that Chevy is continuing to make the Saturn Vue, they call it the Chevy Captiva.This car is not for sale to the general public, but is a fleet car that I happened to rent from Hertz in San Diego.I thought it was a nice little vehicle and, since my wife would like to replace her minivan with a crossover/small SUV, I investigated and found that it is a fleet only car.Then, a few days later, I parked next to a Hybrid Saturn Vue — the cars were IDENTICAL! With the high floor/seating position, I’d imagine that an 85KW battery pack would fit with very little changes to the exterior appearance.Add an optimized range extender and we would have a 50-60 mile EV range VOLT MPV.
This sounds very interesting!
I'm holding out so far for this type of CUV... is it biult the same as the Saturn.. that is.. with plastic body panels and a galvanized frame? That would be a great Voltec vehicle! I would have to buy!

 

[George S. Bower]

statik : Battery is a 20 kWh full package from A123.


Unlike the Volt setup, A123 is doing all the work from cells to the enclosure, all the battery management electronics, thermal management, etc.


Sidenote: I’d be surprised if it is EPA rated inline with the LEAF/Focus.Whatever you consider the LEAF/Focus range to be, I think 10-15% less would be an appropriate assumption here.This car is being built with a global focus…so think cheaper and shorter.
is it liquid cooled??