Sorry Volt, little brother Spark EV outsold ya

[MetroMPG]

I bet they might sell even more of them if people could test drive them somewhere other than the west coast.

The Spark is a "compliance EV". They don't really want to sell 'em everywhere; they're just satisfying CARB EV requirements.

I bet that lease rate is like getting a "free" car for many people, depending on what kind of fuel consumption it offsets. There was a similar deal on the Fiat 500 EV a couple of months ago.

Volt sales are being hammered because the 2nd gen. Volt is just around the corner, with more electric range, features, room, ICE efficiency, and a lower MSRP than the gen. 1 model. Who would buy the current one, knowing all that? I bet very steep discounts on the remaining 2015's are coming soon!

[redpoint5]

Despite my extreme dislike of the exterior styling, this might be what I'm driving in 3 years when they come off lease. I wish an automaker besides Tesla would purpose-build a car to be an EV.

EDIT- I forgot about the Leaf, but that car was designed to look stupid instead of efficiently glide through the air.

[MobilOne]

I think that more likely the Leaf was designed to be as affordable an EV as Nissan could mfg and to do this they just adapted bodies already in production. Just a guess.

[cowmeat]

There was a similar deal on the Fiat 500 EV a couple of months ago.

I couldn't find any dealers in my area that had this one, either. And I've given up on Elio as yet another pipe dream that'll never come to anything.

So for now I'm stuck in my gas hog Insight . . . . guess things could be worse

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by MobilOne

I think that more likely the Leaf was designed to be as affordable an EV as Nissan could mfg and to do this they just adapted bodies already in production. Just a guess.

Yeah... I've often thought the Leaf looks a lot like the Versa hatch.





James

[redpoint5]

From Green Car Reports:

The 2015 Chevy Spark EV is the second most energy-efficient (four-wheeled) vehicle sold in the U.S. of any kind, after the BMW i3 battery-electric hatchback.

The Spark EV is rated at 119 MPGe, while the i3 comes in at 124 MPGe...

...the Spark EV is expected to continue in the current-generation model for another year or so.

It will ultimately be replaced in the Chevy lineup by a production versions of the Chevrolet Bolt Concept shown in January, which will deliver 200 miles of range at a price of $37,500, according to GM CEO Marry Barra.

I've been looking to purchase an EV and thought the Leaf was the only affordable option, so I did a little more research on the Spark EV. Apparently it's the 2nd most efficient EV in production. I'd like to spend $15k or less on a used car from a private party. Looks like I'll have a few more years in my excellent TSX.