Spark EV

Today, Chevrolet announced electrifying new details on the 2014 Spark EV. This is the second electrified vehicle from Chevrolet, with the Chevrolet Volt being the first. However, the Spark EV will be a completely electric vehicle, without the gasoline range-extending technology included in the Volt.

Exhilarating Acceleration

Like the Volt, many drivers will likely be impressed by the speed and pickup of the Spark EV, which will boast an oil-cooled, permanent magnet motor that produces at least 100 kW (130 hp) and instant torque of about 400 lb.-ft. The result is 0-60 mph acceleration in less than eight seconds.

Not only is the Spark EV quick for its segment, its industry-first SAE combo charger will allow DC Fast Charging of up to 80 percent of its battery capacity in about 20 minutes. That capability, available shortly after launch, will provide EV range among the best in the segment. Charging can also be completed in less than seven hours using a dedicated 240V charge. A 120V charge cord set is standard. The Spark EV’s 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will carry on Chevrolet’s warranty protection of eight years /100,000 miles. It will also be capable of handling multiple DC Fast Charges daily. Charging can be managed and monitored remotely using the Spark EV’s smart phone application, provided by OnStar.

Please note: this post originally appeared on the blog GM Beyond Now

In the future, it might be a common sight to see a group of homes or small commercial buildings being powered by an “off the grid” system made up of repackaged Chevrolet Volt batteries.

Today, it’s reality as the partnership between General Motors and ABB opens a new chapter with the debut of a functional prototype Chevrolet Volt battery reuse system that provides uninterruptable power supply and grid power balancing.

The unit repackages 5 Volt batteries into a modular unit that is designed to provide 25 kW of power and 50 kWh of energy for two hours, which is enough to power 3 to 5 average American homes.  In a demonstration, GM and ABB used the prototype to power all the support lighting, and AV equipment in an “off grid” structure. The unit can provide power when electricity goes out, during expensive peak demand, or when intermittency challenges with renewable energy generation arise.

“GM’s battery development extends throughout the entire life of the battery, including secondary use,” said Pablo Valencia, GM senior manager of battery lifecycle management. “In many cases, when an EV battery has reached the end of its life in an automotive application, only 30 percent or less of its life has been used.  This leaves a tremendous amount of life that can be applied to other applications like powering a structure, as we demonstrated today, before we need to initiate recycling,” Valencia said.

The announcement of this next phase in the partnership was made at GM’s Electrification Symposium this week in California, where all of the support lighting and AV equipment was powered using one of the prototypes.

With the emergence of electric vehicles, electric motors also will play a bigger part in future vehicles, such as the 2013 Chevrolet Spark EV.

Chevrolet has been refining its expertise in electric motors at a pilot facility in Wixom, a Detroit suburb, in advance of beginning the domestic production of electric motors at GM’s plant in White Marsh, Md., near Baltimore in early 2013. Equipment and processes to be used at White Marsh are being validated and tested in Wixom. 

Conventionally powered vehicles on the road today have a variety of electric motors to power seats, windows, windshield washers and other functions. Electric motors are used in hybrid and electric vehicles to move the drive wheels to propel the vehicle. Electricity is stored in a battery and feeds power to the electric motor to drive the wheels. The White Marsh facility will produce electric motors for the Spark and other future vehicles.

GM is focused on the development of permanent magnet and induction motors for a variety of applications. GM uses electric motors as part of the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Malibu Eco,  Buick Lacrosse eAssist and Buick Regal eAssist.

As part of our hot weather and grade test drive of the Chevy Spark EV last week, engineers were gathering important data on the performance of the electric motor that will be used to propel the car. The permanent magnet traction motor is designed to maximize power supplied from the Spark’s lithium-ion battery system, delivering up to 85 kW (114 hp) to the front wheels.

To learn more about the Spark EV motor click here. To see photos from the hot and grade test drive for the Spark EV be sure to search #SparkEV on Twitter.