Ten Things I like better in the Spark EV than the Volt. And one thing I really miss.

Nice variety of responses. 'The right tool for the job' . Agreed Dave.
After driving the Volt for two very happy years 'I' realized I don't need the range extension of the Volt's 1.4l OBG.. I don't plan any cross country 'races'. When SAE DC combo is rolled out I may take a leisurely, efficient, gas free 2 to 3 week cross country journey, costing $140 in energy (3500 mi @ 5mi/kwh(.20$/kWh) traveling about 250 mi/day with a lunch and dinner stop for DC charges.
I praise GM for learning and upgrading based on past models and driver feedback.(thanks to those who listed upgrades in the Volt from my 2012 Volt) All this improvement in tech, performance and style bodes well for the Bolt! and Volt II!
The fact that we have many EV options for different driver uses, duty cycles, routes is a fantastic EV development and demonstrates the maturing EV marketplace. Congratulations to all driving PHEV, REV, EV and choosing the vehicle that suits their individual requirements with maximum 'EVfficiency'. Viva la difference!

Bavarian13 said:

>Opting for SAE instead of chademo + 3.3 kWh charging = pure EV fail.

>>Oh, and that cargo area. Yeeouch.

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>What's wrong with using the SAE / CCS for DCFC'ing? It's the future. As said, it can provide twice the power of CHADeMO, if the car accepts it. GM and the Germans now use CCS.
Here's a good primer:http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096446_bmw-vw-and-chargepoint-to-build-100-ccs-fast-charging-sites-for-electric-cars
CHADeMo is used on the Leaf and the iMiEV.
I'll bet most new DCFC installation around the country will have both cords coming from the DCFC unit, like this one, below. Older ones could probably be upgraded to both cords. You can see the CHADeMO cord while my little Spark EV is using the CCS cord.


3.3kW works for me elsewhere, like at work. If I'm out and about the DCFC system in KC is all that is needed. I have a 3.3kW L2 at home, from my Volt days, but may never use it! KC is the most EV progressive city in the USA!
In this map the orange are DCFC and the green are various levels of L2 and they are ALL FREE !! (for 2 yrs)

From the KCP&L site:
As a leader in environmental sustainability, we are excited to announce a network of more than 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the region, the largest electric vehicle charging station installation by an electric utility in the United States. These charging stations are capable of supporting more than 10,000 electric vehicles.
Project overview
Installation of the KCP&L Clean Charge Network began in late 2014 and will be completed summer 2015. So what should you expect from the KCP&L Clean Charge Network?
Easy-to-use charging stations that can charge any electric vehicle.
Free charging for the first two years through partnerships with companies at host locations and with Nissan Motor Company.
Convenient locations ensuring there will be a charging station near where electric vehicle owners live and work.

Yeah, Thanks Nissan !!

>> Yes, small trunk in a small 4 seater. I won't be taking road trip vacations with it. It's rated 82 mile range (although I have seen 94 on my guessometer, just like the Volt) but it will easily do ALL my daily driving (on a single charge) and runs to the airport (will need a quick DCFC top up in the winter).
And do it Fast and Fun! And for me FREE.
I said this before, maybe I'll become the Ari of the Spark EV and never spend a dime on powering this thing! At least for 2 years !

Norton said:

>What's wrong with using the SAE / CCS for DCFC'ing? It's the future. As said, it can provide twice the power of CHADeMO, if the car accepts it. GM and the Germans now use CCS.

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For the same reason I prefer USB over firewire: it may be an inferior standard, but it's more prevalent and it works.

There are quite a few more Leafs and Chademo ports on the road. You may dislike the car, but Nissan's Leaf has an order of magnitude more units sold than all the SAE/CCS cars combined (i3, eGolf, Spark EV). And they have more than a running start with Chademo ports in existence vs. SAE CCS.

Oh, and I've yet to see a single SAE / CCS port that goes over 50 kW, which is exactly the same rate as Chademo. That picture you posted? What's the charge rate? Your car? What's the charge rate? 50 kW. So, sure, it "COULD" go to 100 kW... Practically, it doesn't.

Norton said:

I'll bet most new DCFC installation around the country will have both cords coming from the DCFC unit, like this one, below. Older ones could probably be upgraded to both cords. You can see the CHADeMO cord while my little Spark EV is using the CCS cord.

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Why the hell did GM and the Germans run in the other direction? It confuses the marketplace, creates yet another plug (to add to the two we already have, J1772 & Chademo) and gums up the works at a time when the EV market is just budding. The extra cord/plug/standard adds more cost to the charging station, on the margins, that hurts DCFC's adoption overall.

Highly irritating and counterproductive.