Chevy's Spark EV passes Honda Fit EV as America's most efficient car

Passing rival EVs, the new Chevy Spark has incredible efficiency and other surprises.

When Chevrolet first announced details of the new 2013 Spark electric vehicle, it was quickly apparent to Torque News that the car would be the fastest affordable electric car in the US market. What was not as obvious was that it would also be the most efficient car available in the US when it launched.

Electric cars of all types are rated on their efficiency by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). It might be a surprise to some that the most efficient vehicles in America with an electric drive are not always full electrics, but often plug-in hybrid vehicles. For more on that subject please click here. Until it’s announcement, the Honda Fit EV with 118 MPGe had been the most efficient vehicle available in the US markets. With its 119 MPGe rating the new Chevy Spark will now hold that honor.

In its announcement today, Pam Fletcher, GM’s executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles said “Being able to provide our customers with the best overall efficiency of any retail EV has always been a key target for the Spark EV engineering team. We’re poised to deliver to the market an EV that’s not just efficient, but also thrilling to drive thanks to the 400 lb-ft torque output of its electric motor.” Cristi Landy, director of Chevrolet small and electrified vehicle marketing expanded on that saying, "The Chevrolet Spark EV is a great city car which blends technology, functionality and style in an unexpected package. We built on the success of the Volt and the gas-powered Spark to offer an affordable, fun and efficient mini car our customers will love to drive."

Interestingly, the Chevy Spark gasoline powered car also shakes up the marketplace in other ways. Like its EV counterpart, the gasoline powered car will have key maintenance advantages over its competitors. For details on this please click this link. The EV’s battery pack is covered by GM’s 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty.

Like the Honda Fit EV and the Honda Accord Plug-in hybrid, the new Spark EV is limited in its availability for now. It will only be available in California and Oregon while Chevy gauges customer acceptance of the car. Automakers also launch their EVs in states that mandate zero tailpipe emissions cars to meet quotas. The Spark EV goes on sale this summer.