One of the biggest downfalls of electric vehicles is their cost relative to comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles are quite a bit more expensive and with many still having limited range and long charge times, the cost can be hard for many consumers to justify.
You don’t have to be rich, or even middle class, to drive an electric vehicle, though. We were recently looking up used values of the Chevrolet Spark EV and were delighted (although perhaps not surprised) to see the aging electric hatchback is quite cheap to buy. It’s not just cheap for an EV, either – it’s a great deal period.
Take this silver 2015 Chevrolet Spark EV, for example. It has just 26,000 miles on the odometer is listed for just $7,987. This one is not an anomaly, either. There are many different Spark EVs for sale second-hand in the country right now (as per AutoTrader.com) most for less than $12,000 and with less than 30,000 miles on the odometer.
A Chevrolet Spark EV does have its downfalls, of course. When new, the EV was good for 82 miles of range on a full charge, making it good for short city commutes or a brief shopping trip, and that’s about it. Some city dwellers or those without a daily commute to work rarely travel further than this, though, so a used Spark EV may still be a good green car bargain for those folks.
We should also point out that the Chevrolet Spark EV is a total riot to drive thanks to its electric motor, which produces a frankly absurd 400 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than a Ferrari 458 Italia, as we pointed out in our first-drive review of this overpowered electric hatch, and enough to make it feel genuinely quick. The 0-60 mph time stands at around 7.6s, but as you probably know, electric motors don’t continue to pull as well once the car is at speed. It will top out at 90 mph, however, which is quite fast for a city car such as this.
Let us know what you think about the proposition of a used Chevrolet Spark EV in the comments down below and be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GM electric car news, Chevrolet Spark news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
I’ve ridden in one of these, it truly was a blast to whip around and the low end torque was great, better than a Bolt actually by feel! Even though the numbers don’t show it, the Spark EV appeared to have much less software restriction and calibration to “ramp in” the current to the motor when you went full power. It would spin the tires on demand!
I have sat in a gasoline Spark and I like how compact it is, but my wife doesn’t like compact cars. She she was a passenger in a Honda Civic that suffered a collision, so she feels claustrophobic and unsafe in any compact, even in the Chevy Volt and Bolt EV.
Everything bad about the gas car was fixed in the EV. Night and day difference.
I’ve owned mine for almost a year, bought it with 6kmiles paid a little over 9k for it, it had been sitting on the dealership lot for a year which isn’t good for an EV. I got the charge up to about 78 miles after 5 months of ownership, then this past July the car had a major 12 volt charge fault and the dash said see dealer, so the car was bricked in my garage for a day dealership said it needed a new battery. I waited 2 weeks to get the car back because that battery is no longer produced and it takes a special tool and retro fit kit. I got the car back and 1 day it drained 2 almost zero after driving a short distance. I charged it that night and the next day…128 miles, that was an exception. I know get about 70 average on a full charge. The car is fun to drive and it’s really quick, acceleration is instant and I can park it anywhere.
I actually bought a ’15 Spark EV in January for $7,999 with a about 29k miles. It is pretty fun to drive, but being FWD really keeps it from being great (tons of torque steer when you mash the throttle). It’s pretty roomy inside considering its tiny footprint. I live in Northern Illinois, so the winter really cuts into the range: about 40 miles when it’s below 0 outside, but I regularly am in the upper 80s in the warm weather and even see over 100 miles when in city driving. (Side note: 2014 was only year with 400 lb-ft; it dropped to 327 lb-ft for 2015, but really, the car has trouble handling even 327.)
It’s really simple.
1. How many people would buy a Chevy Bolt RIGHT NOW if it was $22,000? A LOT.
2. How much is the full price of an actual Bolt minus $22,000? $15,495. That means we have to find that money to discount a bolt for somebody (who’s on a waiting list and wants it!)
3. Take 250,000 people buying gas in, say, California. Charge each of them .02 cents a gallon. Let’s say each of them got 10 gallons on one day. 10 x .02 x 250,000 equals $50,000.
4. 50,000 divided by $15,495 = 3.2 bolts discounted to the asking price of $22,000.
5. How many drivers are there in California? 27 million. If each got gas once a week and got ten gallons —
6. — that’s $540,000 a week for the Bolt Discount fund. Which would result int 35 sold Bolts a week. Or —
7. — 1812 sold discounted Bolts a year. In just California, mind you. There’s something like —
8. — a 190 million more drivers out and about. 10 x .02 x 190 million divided by 15, 494 = 2452 Bolts discounted a week, or 9. — 127,504 discounted bolts a year. Add in the Cali Bolts and GM could be making 129,000 Bolts a year.
You lost me a suggesting more taxes in California!!!
You paid too much. I bought our 2015 with 26,000 miles and totally pristine for $6500. We love it! Forgive my insensitive use of words, but it’s a total “gas” to drive. And no oil to change. It’s like a blender. Drive it and use it and change the tires as needed. With regenerative braking even those items last longer. And room for four to be very comfortable. Under 8 seconds to sixty and stops on a dime. You do have to pay attention when you press the pedal down.
Did you get that price at a dealer or private purchase?
Nope! Way too many “toos” for my taste. Too few cylinders, too small, and too ugly!