The 2014 Chevy Spark EV Is an Electric Car Sleeper
Electric and hybrid vehicles are going to be far more prevalent in the near future, which means that many new car buyers will be somewhat limited on choices. However, many electric vehicles are well out of the price range of most prospective buyers’ budgets and the used car market for them isn’t that much better. Unless you do a little digging.
There is one EV gem in the used electric car spectrum and it’s not made by Tesla or Nissan. It’s the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV, and from what we can tell, it’s quite the electric car sleeper.
“The small block of the electric segment”
What makes the 2014 Chevy Spark EV so great isn’t the mere fact that it was an electric car that debuted at a time when EVs weren’t that popular. Instead, what makes it interesting is the power that it puts out. Under the hood of this pint-sized electric car is an electric motor that’s paired to a 21-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a combination that’s good for 140 hp and a whooping 400 lb-ft of torque.
For reference, that’s almost the same amount of torque that the Chevrolet Camaro SS produces from its massive V8 engine. But what’s even better is that the Spark EV produces that torque from the moment you step on the accelerator. We think Car and Driver said it best when they described the Spark EV as “the small-block of the electric car segment.”
The Spark EV was quicker than its gas-only counterpart
With all of that torque, you would expect the Spark EV to be pretty quick, and it was. According to Car and Driver’s testing, the electric-powered Spark was able to get from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.9 seconds. That was almost four seconds quicker than its gas-powered counterpart and pretty good considering the car weighed about 3,000 pounds. The gas-only Spark weighed around 600 pounds less.
Like most electric cars, the Spark EV’s battery sits low in the chassis, under the rear-seat area. The placement makes for a lower center of gravity in addition to better weight distribution, giving the Spark EV a near 50/50 front and rear balance. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it could handle like a sports car, however, Car and Driver did note that it was fun to drive around town, and speeding up for yellow lights was downright effortless.
As far as the car’s range, the Spark EV is rated for up to 82 miles and it can be recharged with a 240-volt charger in just seven hours. For those without a 240-volt outlet, the Spark EV could be recharged using a normal 110-volt plug, but that process can take as long as 20 hours, according to Edmunds.
What happened to the Spark EV?
GM ended production of the Spark EV in 2017 to make room for the Chevy Bolt, which was more practical and efficient (238-mile range). However, the fact that it was produced for two model years means that you can currently find a Spark EV for sale on the used market.
A search on Autotrader reveals that there are currently 70 listings nationwide. Many Spark EVs are being listed for sale between $6,000 and $12,000. Anyone looking for a cheap way to get into an EV in the future should probably take note, as the Spark EV is quite the hidden EV gem.
RELATED: Chevy Volt vs. Spark EV: The Volt Loses, 2 States to 50
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