Chevrolet Spark EV: The Poor Man’s Tesla
If ever there was a poorly named car, it’s the Chevrolet Spark. Sadly, the EV version of this vehicle is in dire need of some spark of its own. Already available on the Canadian marketplace with a thermal engine, this sub-compact from GM will soon be gliding into showrooms on 110 kW of all-electric power. How soon is soon? Expect it to come out in spring 2014 as the 2015 model. But believe me, it will be worth the wait. In the meantime, Bourgeois Chevrolet Buick GMC in Rawdon, Quebec, lent me a privately imported five-door Spark EV – or as I like to call it, a poor man’s Tesla Model S.
Its 130 horses, instantaneous torque, superior road handling and silent ride all reminded me of the popular Californian car. Ok, so it doesn’t accelerate with the same blast, but with four people aboard, it nonetheless manages to charge forward with more zeal than other vehicles the same size. Can you believe that I got it to fly up to 100 km/h in just 8 seconds? Were it not for my three hefty companions, we definitely we would have made it in 7.5 seconds, as posted by Chevrolet. That said, having these friends with me proved that this mini-car is spacious enough, despite the fact that its wheelbase has got to be the shortest of all cars on the market. A short wheelbase, as we all know, means exceptional handling.
In the city, the Spark darted through traffic with the agility of a squirrel, reminding me my first Mini from the 1960s. Again, it’s not so much the 130 horsepower that make the Spark so nimble around town, but it’s the 400 lbs.-ft. of instantly available torque. You don’t even get that much torque from a Mustang GT, Ferrari 458 Italia or Porsche 911 S. This electric Chevy comes equipped with 254 kg of lithium-ion batteries that can recharge to 80% in just 20 minutes using the SAE Combo Fast Charging available on option for $800. With your 110-V domestic outlet, it takes 18 hours, though this time is cut by 6 or 7 hours using a 220-V outlet.
But the question on everyone’s mind is: what about range? My short drive of the Spark wasn’t enough for me to test Chevrolet’s word, which is essentially that, depending on atmospheric conditions, the Spark’s range is somewhere between 120-180 km. That’s about 20 km more than the Nissan Leaf and leaps and bounds beyond the poor little Mitsubishi i-MiEV. One thing’s for sure, General Motors has done a great job with this car, and consequently the Spark should have no problem surpassing its previously mentioned rivals.
Vow of silence
There’s a key fob on the dashboard to start the car, then you just put the lever to D or L to get it moving. The mode you choose will affect the amount of energy recovered during slow-downs or braking. In a luxury vehicle like a Tesla Model S, you fully expect the ride to be super quiet, but not usually from small cars like the Spark. And that’s what makes its blissfully silent ride all the more impressive. Meanwhile, interior space has been used very effectively, though the fact remains that the cargo hold is minute. That said, you can fold the rear seat back down (in whole or in part) to free up cargo space, provided you also kick out your rear passengers.
The only hitch in its handling is that the steering is incredibly light and offers absolutely no feedback from the road. The vehicle, despite being so petite, is relatively comfortable. The dashboard has been enhanced with two 7-inch screens that display everything you’d ever want to know about the batteries and the infotainment system.
While the Spark’s price has yet to be revealed, it should find a number of willing buyers, thanks to Pauline Marois’ generous government rebate and the other measures introduced by Daniel Breton (who is responsible for the electrification of transport). And just the fact that it gets mentioned in the same sentence as the amazing Model S will allow the Spark to lay claim to the title “the poor man’s Tesla.”