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[Richard230]

An AP article in today's newspaper says that GM claims that their new battery-powered Spark mini-car "will be the most efficient car available for sale to the public". They claim an EPA equivalent 119 mpg and an EPA-rated range of 82 miles in combined city/highway driving, according to their tests. (Other EVs can go further, though. The Fiat 500e claims a range of 87 miles - and then there is the Tesla.)

The electric Spark (catchy name ) will go on sale in July, but only in Oregon and California. GM hasn't released the price yet but said it will be less than $32,500. The company has not indicated when it will be available for sale in other states.

The article says that automakers have sold almost 4,900 fully electric vehicles during the first quarter of this year, nearly three times the number during the same period last year. But that is only 0.13% of total U.S. car sales. 

[protomech]

The Spark is pretty cool. Early driving reports are good, and it's both faster and more nimble than the gas-engined Spark.

As it should be, at mid $20k prices (after subsidy) vs mid $10k prices.

I believe it has just a 3 kW AC charger, which in absolute terms is like the L1 charger on our Zeros. Fast charging will rely on DC charging, which claims 80% in 20 minutes. So when and if SAE J1772 DC charging catches on, you can drive on the highway for 20-30 minutes then charge for 10. Not bad .. when the infrastructure arrives.

[wainair]

If I lived in the city I'd consider one. Unfortunately I'm out in the sticks and the range is still a bit too low for me. They are making progress though with ranges! I'd still like to see, in the future, extended range batteries as an option. Right now they are trying to balance cost of purchase with range performance. I am just outside the average American commuting range and they are building cars just to fit that range. I'd pay a premium to get an extended range battery as an option so they could still sell a lower cost car to the general buying public who live in town.