Chevrolet Spark EV Leads the Charge in Efficiency

At GM, we pride ourselves on being an industry leader in electric vehicle manufacturing. Case in point: the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, which sets the industry benchmark in electric vehicle efficiency in the U.S. retail market with an EPA-estimated combined city/highway 119 MPGe fuel economy equivalent.

Compared to the average new vehicle, the Spark EV can potentially save its owners up to $9,000 in fuel cost over five years.

“Being able to provide our customers with the best overall efficiency of any retail EV has always been a key target for the Spark EV engineering team,” said Pam Fletcher, GM executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles. “We’re poised to deliver to the market an EV that’s not just efficient, but also thrilling to drive thanks to the 400 lb-ft torque output of its electric motor.”

The motor and drive unit are assembled at GM’s Baltimore operations plant in White Marsh, Md. Recently, the plant celebrated Spark EV motor production, marking the first time a major U.S. auto manufacturer has designed and built both a complete electric motor and drive unit for a modern electric vehicle in the United States.

Spark EV will also be the first vehicle on the market to offer as an available option the recently approved SAE combo charger for DC Fast Charging. The capability, available shortly after launch, will enable the Spark EV to recharge up to 80 percent of its capacity in approximately 20 minutes. Charging can also be completed in less than seven hours using a dedicated 240V charge. Spark EV has a combined city/highway EPA estimated range of 82 miles when fully charged.

The Spark EV goes on sale this summer in California and Oregon. The vehicle will be priced as low as $19,995 with tax incentives.