GM confirms Spark EV battery replacements, plans to make packs for years

Chevy has plans to supply Spark EV alternative batteries in spite of everything, the corporate confirmed late Wednesday after a number of shops and varied social media customers shared information that Chevy dealerships had confirmed its discontinuation. That is excellent news for homeowners of older Spark EVs who might have replacements, however ongoing logistics points could delay the supply of packs. 

Whereas studies that the batteries equipped by China’s A123 Programs are now not obtainable proved to be true, GM has an answer within the type of a unique provider: LG Chem — the corporate that offered packs for later items within the Spark EV’s manufacturing run. 

Not even every week in the past, we posted that Basic Motors had stopped offering battery packs for the Spark EV primarily based on a narrative from EV-Useful resource, who’d been advised by dealership service departments that stated the battery was unavailable. That seemed to be confirmed by an an unnamed GM exec who advised the location, “We’re now not going to produce that battery.”  

The Spark EV Proprietor’s Fb web page stated the identical factor, the group contacting sellers and being advised the battery is unavailable, and a supplier tech commenting on the web page to say not one of the larger ups had advised him something.

GM wrote Wednesday to tell us the report is wrong, saying, “Whereas we’re at the moment experiencing a short lived disruption within the provide of latest Spark EV packs, GM stays dedicated to offering alternative packs to Spark EV homeowners who want them sooner or later and can work with homeowners till we get the provision points resolved.”

We requested the spokesperson how they thought the story acquired from “GM is briefly out of Spark EV batteries” to “GM will not make Spark EV batteries once more.” The reply started, “Batteries used within the 2014 MY Spark EV have been equipped by one other firm, not LG.”

These items got here from China’s A123 Programs, which suffered some points by means of the primary years of use after the Spark went on sale in 2013. 

“We switched to LG in 2015 and for the remainder of the Spark EV’s run,” the spokesperson continued. “We did have some alternative packs for 2014 with the cells from the outdated provider, however when these ran out we closed off that half [number] for re-order. [We] assume [someone] noticed that and jumped to the conclusion that we weren’t offering alternative packs anymore, not realizing the packs from the opposite mannequin years are suitable to be used in 2014 MY Spark EVs.”

That’s, GM used up its provide of alternative packs from A123 Programs, and somebody did not notice the LG Chem packs have been suitable with the Spark EV’s that had used the A123 Programs packs. The confusion was compounded as a result of GM is out of LG Chem packs for the time being.

Requested when GM thinks extra LG Chem packs can be obtainable, the spokesperson stated, “We’re working with our provider to resolve these points as rapidly as potential. Sadly, I can’t provide you with a precise time once we ought to have ample packs obtainable.”

Maybe an important query after that’s what can Spark EV homeowners anticipate for the subsequent decade. With packs having an 8-year, 100,000-mile guarantee, the final Spark EV battery might be coated till 2025 relying on mileage. Once we requested if GM is aware of how lengthy it plans to supply batteries for the electrical hatchback, we have been advised, “We’re working by means of the plans right here to transcend the guarantee interval and can have extra to share quickly.”

So, Spark EV homeowners, rejoice. Properly, every time packs can be found once more.

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