As part of Chevrolet’s upcoming 100 year anniversary, GM is unveiling a new US-bound electric car; the highly anticipated all-electric Spark EV.
A version of this fully electric vehicle was shown off in India earlier this year, and at the Detroit Auto Show this past January. GM CEO Dan Akerson said the company was developing an all-electric vehicle to soon be sold in the United States. The Spark EV fits right into the rumors that their new electric car is small and designed for large urban areas. Sounds perfect for Generation-Y kids who are moving into the city, doesn’t it?
Electric cars have been relatively slow to catch on. In the US the lack of vehicles to choose from has held back an increase in electric vehicles on the road, along with limited means to charge the vehicle while on the road. High sticker prices have been another turnoff for potential buyers.
GM and other automakers need more fuel-efficient vehicles on the market, in order to meet the strict U.S. requirements to be put in place by 2025. Ford is going to be introducing an electric Focus in 2012, with expectations that it will travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. Toyota will also debut a plug-in version of the Prius.
The Spark EV will use a nanophosphate lithium-ion battery pack from A123 Systems, and will be sold in limited quantities throughout U.S. and global markets starting in 2013. The battery will provide an electric-only range of about 50 miles. After that, the 1.4-liter gas engine provides power. Additional information, such as the price, will be released closer to introduction time.
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