Chevy’s Smallest Car to Hit US Markets Ever — Chevy Spark

May 13th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

People seem increasingly aware of the high (and often useless) cost of owning large vehicles. Whether switching to bikes, buses, electric vehicles, or smaller cars, people are making changes in their lives to get around more efficiently. So, it’s no surprise Chevrolet is about to offer its smallest vehicle to date in US markets (as well as an electric version of it in unnamed markets in 2013). More from Andrew Meggison of Gas2:

The Smallest Chevrolet Ever Offered In The USA (via Gas 2.0)

I do not know about you but it seems like every time I turn on the TV I see an add for a Fiat — JLo is stepping out of one on the red carpet or Charlie Sheen is driving one around his mansion. So called mini cars are in right now and Chevrolet is getting into the game with the $12,995 base priced…

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Tags: chevrolet, chevy, chevy spark, chevy spark ev, quickies

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

32jim2

WHY can’t we get the diesel spark that gets 64 mpg? why do we get ripped off in america?
Electric38

Price the EV at the $12,500 and throw in the solar charger.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stan-Stein/1756064509 Stan Stein

Geez…I wonder when the automotive industry is going to hire better designers?
See, we have these tiny toys, getting 38mpg, and then, we have medium cars with engines over twice the size getting 32mpg and more.
The answer is so obvious it’s rediculous.
But in the meantime….while the little brains grow up into big brains….we can have 1 litre small turbo diesels, getting 80mpg…..in another kind of hybrid…..one that only uses the electric motors to suppliment the main power…..like when starting off, going up a hill, or a fast pass on the hwy. Other than that, a 1 litre turbodiesel is plenty powerful for a 3000lb car. Using electric power this way…..the motors would only have to run minutes on the hour. Cars just don’t use much power to maintain 35 mpg or even 55 mpg once rolling, and also use very little fuel at a steady 1500rpm, which, as you already know, is mplenty fast for a diesel to need to spin for it’s torque band.
With 2 motors @ 50 hp each, and a 75 hp diesel, that’s 175 hp..certainly enough for any small car to have plenty of power to drive, accelerate and climb hills.
Jonesey

For $12,000? You can buy my 2005 VW Golf TDI that runs on biodiesel (without modification) and gets 50+ MPG on the highway. Seven years later, 40 MPG is progress?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PKBLDBYWRPMI7N3DTPQIZJJQTM Nuclear

40% of the vehicles sold in Japan are Mini-vehicles with V3 660 cc engine. Chevy Spark with 1.2 liter engine is still powerful enough. Many families who have 2 vehicles can have this 1 for daily commute and short trips.

It has 6 speed tranny with improved Ecotec engine.
Markjoseph820

Fuel cell cars , that’s what I want !
Connelly963

What about fuel cell cars?
- Bob_Wallace
  
  To date no one has produced an affordable, long lasting fuel cell.
  
  FCEVs would have a tremendous problem capturing market share if EV batteries come down in price.
  
  Making hydrogen from clean electricity is inefficient. Much more efficient to use that power to drive EVs.
  
  The cost of creating a hydrogen infrastructure would be quite high. The basic infrastructure for EVs is already in place.
  
  EVs are likely to get affordable in the next few years. When that happens they will dominate the market. The only way FCEVs would push them out of the market would be to become extremely cheaper in order to offset energy loss and infrastructure costs.
Actofcourage

If the price of batteries come down as I believe they will as technology advances in this area EV will be the only way to go. All boils down to still using fossil fuel PV solar panels on every roof, Hey how about that VW diesel engine that gets 60+ miles to the gallon that the US won’t allow to be imported even though the motor is made here in the US, I’m not judging I’m just saying,
- Bob_Wallace
  
  60mpg isn’t good enough.
  
  $4 fuel and 60mpg means 7 cents per mile.
  
  $0.08/kWh and 0.35kWh/mile means 3 cents per mile.
  
  As battery prices come down ICEVs will get forced off the market.
  
  (Don’t forget to add in the higher maintenance/repair costs for ICEVs.)