[TDR]

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Will Not Be Available To The Canadian Public At Launch

The Chevrolet Spark EV is an all electric car from GM with an EPA-estimated range of 81 miles, that is currently entering production in South Korea, and will go on sale in that country shortly, with deliveries to start in the summer.

2014 Spark EV Powered By A Peppy 100 kW Motor

Two other countries have also been confirmed to get the EV, namely the United States and Canada. Chevrolet has also recently promised to sell the Spark in “selected markets” throughout Europe.

However for one country, all is not as it seems, as InsideEVs has learned while attending the CIAS (Canadian International Auto Show) this week, that when it comes to Canada, there is a fly in the ointment.

According to GM, “…at initial launch in Canada, Spark EV will be a Fleet vehicle only and pricing will be announced closer to launch. It will be eligible for Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia provincial EV incentives.”

In speaking with a representative we learned that quite likely the 2014 Spark EV will be only available to commercial customers. The 2015 Spark EV (on sale in fall of 2014) will perhaps be the earliest date it will be made available to the Canadian public, with that decision also quite likely affected by how the car is received in its limited US roll-out. Starting next fall, the Spark EV will be available in both California and Oregon in the US.

GM says that when the Spark EV launches next summer, it is ”expected to have among the best EV battery range in its segment and be the first electric vehicle to offer SAE Combo DC Fast Charging capability, enabling the Spark EV to reach 80-percent battery charge in just 20 minutes.”

The Spark EV will retail just under $32,500 when it goes on sale in the US, and is powered by a 560-pound (254 kg) square liquid-cooled battery lithium-ion battery pack, comprised of 336 prismatic cells, good for just over 20 kWh of energy. The Chevy city EV sports a 100 kW (130 hp) motor under the hood that gives the Spark EV a lively 0-60 time of under 8.5 seconds.

Looking at the big picture when it comes to the Chevrolet Spark EV, we are still undecided whether or not to class this as a compliance-EV, or as a real mass production offering for General Motors. But then again, perhaps GM is still just as unsure themselves.

Below: 2014 Spark EV Gallery (double click)

Chevrolet Spark EV Coming To Canada As A Fleet Only Vehicle. For Now.

 

[TDR]

2014 Spark EV

100 kW Motor Nestled Under Hood

Rear Hatch Of Spark EV

Technical Map Of Spark EV

2014 Spark EV Interior

Spark EV In Motion

 

[chrisvy]

Strange. Why fleet car only? What difference is it if they offer it to consumers?

 

[Mr. Sparkle]

Doesn't really make sense to me either. Maybe Chevy is dipping their toes in the Canadian market before fully committing. Unless do they get some sort of tax break/exemption I'm not sure about. Canada has a pretty big duty when it comes to car imports.

 

[/\/\ATIZ]

Makes sense to me. It's hard to sell them individually to consumers but if you have companies that needs cars in the numbers, you can sell quite a bit of these depending who and where you're selling too.

I can see these as cars for Taxi services, city maintenance workers, etc using the Spark EV. Being used like this, it looks really good on the city for making a "green" initiative and more.

 

[All_Spark]

I dont understand why they would male it a fleet only in canada. But the bugger question is will they be getting a break with rebates and incentives to buy an EV in Canada? That could essentially draw in a bigger crowd.

 

[Mr. Sparkle]

Well worst case scenario for Canadians. THey can just cross the border and get one. I've never bought across the border, so I'm not exactly sure how taxes on it would work, if someone can enlighten me.