GM Hopes LA Show Will "Spark" EV Interest

DETROIT -- (WWJ) General Motors will use the Los Angeles Auto Show to introduce its first pure electric vehicle since the days of the EV1.

The Spark EV is a variation of the Chevrolet Spark, GM's new small car aimed at people who live in urban settings.

"When our team set out to develop the propulsion system for Spark EV, we knew we had to provide surprising fun-to-drive acceleration with maximum efficiency," said Spark EV Chief Engineer Chuck Russell.

GM promises a 0-60 time of under 8 seconds. Many other statistics of the vehicle will be announced at a media event in Los Angeles on November 27th. The company says that more than 75 percent of the Sparks propulsion system comes from either the Chevy Volt, or current GM hybrid vehicles.

While the Volt runs on electric power, it also has a gasolinee powered generator on board. The Spark will only run on electricity from its on-board lithium-ion batteries.

The Chevy Spark will have a number of recharging options, including a special fast charging that will bring the battery to 80 percent capacity in 20 minutes.

"Spark EV's battery has undergone more than 200,000 hours of testing in our global battery systems labs," said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM's global electrification engineering team. "This testing paved the way to allow our customers to do multiple DC Fast Charges daily to help alleviate range anxiety and improve convenience."