[scrambler]

Hi,
With the recent acquisition of a used 2014 Spark EV with 57k miles, I am trying to evaluate the condition of its battery.

Searching the web, I found globally two different numbers about the supposed Usable capacity of that 21kWh battery.
One says the battery has 18.4kWh usable
another says 17.1kWh usable

Looking at the energy information reported on the energy screen for Total percentage of use (Driving + Climate + conditioning), and kWh used, I have had a couple of data points for mine.

79% for 13kWh which would mean a usable capacity of 16.46kWh
99% for 15.9kWh which would mean a usable capacity of 16.06kWh

This would mean that:
Worst case scenario (16kWh instead of 18.4kWh) it has a 13% degradation
Best case scenario (16.46kWh instead of 17.1kWh) it has only a 4% degradation

Based on this, I am looking for the following information.

1. Does anyone have a sure source for the official usable capacity of the 2014 Spark battery pack?
2. Can Spark owners share the data reported on their energy screen for Total percentage of use (Driving + Climate + Conditioning), and kWh used, so I can get a sense for the average capacity extrapolated from these numbers, but also how reliable that info is.
3. Is there a detail information of what amount of degradation is considered outside of the norm and would trigger the warranty? Has anyone tried to ask a dealership for that info?
4. Has anyone ever asked a dealership to perform an evaluation to see if their battery qualifies for warranty replacement? Is that even an accepted procedure?

Thank you for the help

 

[DonC]

I believe the first cells came from from A123 and came in a pack with a capacity of 21.3 kWh. This is likely your model. Then the cells came from LG Chem and the pack had an 18.4 kWh capacity. No idea what the usable was but probably 80%, which was about what GM considered to be safe back then. (Plus such a short range BEV puts a lot more cycles on the pack).

 

[Norton]

...Looking at the energy information reported on the energy screen for Total percentage of use (Driving + Climate + conditioning), and kWh used, I have had a couple of data points for mine.

79% for 13kWh which would mean a usable capacity of 16.46kWh
99% for 15.9kWh which would mean a usable capacity of 16.06kWh

This would mean that:
Worst case scenario (16kWh instead of 18.4kWh) it has a 13% degradation
Best case scenario (16.46kWh instead of 17.1kWh) it has only a 4% degradation...

Yep, degradation happens. It's just part of life wiht a Li-Ion.
I plot my '14 Spark EV on a spread sheet. I use a 19.5kWh number for the '% of Orig-Cap' column.
But it is hard to find an official number on this subject, as you have found.

You will have to plot it for a while to see an average, as you have found also.
I try to take a pictures at shut down when I have used more than 50%.
The other Spark EV forum has lots of info on this, but I can't remember if anyone has found the warranty trigger point for degradation. That is thankfully years out, unlike some hot weather climate Leaf owners have found.

Sorry I don't have exact answers.

 

[scrambler]

Thanks,
Can you share some of your numbers for Total percentage of use (Driving + Climate + conditioning), and corresponding kWh used, at different times in a battery cycle and on different days?

 

[Norton]

Detailed explanation here: http://www.mychevysparkev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4752&p=17622#p17622

 

[scrambler]

Saw that

Thanks

 

[Nate Asher]

That thread was very helpful. Might as well bookmark that.