The Saga of My 2016 Spark EV, It's Been Quite the Experience!

It's been a long time coming, but I wanted to share about the experiences I've had over the past year and with getting my battery replaced.
I wrote a few articles about the experience for those of you who like reading:
GM Kills Support For The Spark EV, No Battery Replacement Available
httpsss://www.ev-resource.com/blog/gm-kills-support-for-the-spark-ev-no-battery-replacement-available
GM Clarifies The Spark EV Battery Situation
httpsss://www.ev-resource.com/blog/gm-clarifies-the-spark-ev-battery-situation
The Saga of My Spark EV
httpsss://www.ev-resource.com/blog/the-saga-of-my-spark-ev
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[@anastigmatix4119]

2014 - LiFePO4 battery. You can top up battery every time if you want, not a problem with this chemistry. Same with driving down to 0%, not a problem as long as you get home! 2015 & 2016 - You can top up battery every time since it is likely only 90%, maybe 95%. I drive mine downhill from home fully charged and still have regen so that means there is at least a bit of room left in the battery at 'full'. But try not to go much below 15% or 20% before recharging. This is important for this chemistry. Purposely driving from 10% > 0% is ABUSING the battery and likely the cause of these premature failures of the LG Chem "ternary" cells. These are not as sturdy as the 2014 A123 cells unfortunately. --

[@EVResource]

Very great point that most people won’t bother to learn. I’ve figured out that the general public doesn’t care about battery chemistries or even how their car works at all… regardless of how it’s fueled. There are very few people like you and me that care to know this stuff.

[@deangailwahl8270]

6:40 Don't be scared to bad mouth the people who have not done the job right. This protects other consumers and as a business owner I need to know if my business is not doing a good job. Not saying this actually is the wrong thing to do.

[@EVResource]

I agree with you, to a point. I think there is an appropriate time and place to voice concerns over service for sure!

[@jeremyhighhouse6903]

Quick update on the battery replacement for my spark. I contacted GM, and they said replacement batteries are 4 months out at this point so I asked about the possibility of a straight buyback. They said they could offer the buyback and I'm waiting to hear back from them with their offer.

[@EVResource]

Hopefully you are able to get the resolution you're seeking! This all but confirms my suspicion that they are having battery cells produced on-demand and don't actually have inventory of anything for the Spark EV. Honestly, I wouldn't expect it any other way.

[@armynephrologist]

Great video Zach.. to compile all those experiences over such a long time and video over that time… that took a lot of work.. Kudos to you for staying on GM and writing about your experiences.. your advocacy for your fellow Spark EV owners will no doubt help many. Great job!

[@29JellyMan]

How do you do the burn out in your spark?

[@EVResource]

Thank you!

[@EVResource]

@29JellyMan I pulled the ABS fuse to deactivate traction AND stability control… then I tied it to a lamppost to keep it in one place.

[@donthompson9862]

Pretty sweet looking car that Green with Black Rims looks great😊

[@EVResource]

Thanks! I've always felt that any brightly colored car looks good with black rims. This however really turned out great!

[@uni4rm]

GM dropped the ball. 8 year warranty on a item they decided to discontinue even before 8 years had gone by? Makes a person want to pause on the Bolt. They’ve gone through the Volt, the Spark, and the Bolt and it hasnt been a decade.

[@EVResource]

As much as I loved the Spark EV for the experience of driving it over the few years I had it, the issues that were shown do not build a lot of confidence in the company. I’m sure their next generation of EVs built on the Ultium platform are awesome though!

[@Chappomusic]

Don’t forget the same issues with Nissan Leaf, Fisker Karma, Volvo hybrids, all start up and let customers testdrive it .

[@kd6dun]

I just found your channel, and I love your videos. I purchased a 2016 Spark EV two years in 2021 with 46K miles on it. And I just a few days ago had an issue where it would not start up in the morning It is giving me errors pointing to the charging system, with several other error pointing to stabilitrack. I am an Electronics engineer, but I do not have any special tools that will read the codes from the vehicle. My $80 ODBII reader from Harbor Freight will not read any codes. I did determine that the low voltage AGM battery only had 11V and that that is why it would not function. I put a battery charger on the AGM Battery, and I was able to get the car to go into gear, which is when I concluded that the 12V AGM battery was my issue. I ordered a replacement and I am still waiting on its arrival. From your videos I noticed that you are using software that lets you read the data bus. I was wondering if you could share what diagnostics reader and hardware or software that you use to diagnose your 2016 Spark EV?

[@EVResource]

Hi there! The 12v battery ok these cars is a common failure point that results in exactly what you described. It’s always good to get that checked and replaced as necessary. As far as the diagnostics. It’s a cheap android tablet from Walmart paired with a cheap OBD2 Bluetooth dongle. The app is TorquePro and I had downloaded the PIDS for the Chevy Bolt EV (because there isn’t anything for the Spark EV). allev.info/boltpids/

[@watzonda2b]

Thank you for this Informative Channel....we have a 2015 Spark EV with 30K miles. We bought it with almost 13K miles at the end of 2018. It has been a very dependable vehicle. We are however experiencing a propulsion battery decline. This time of the year (freezing temps) it is only charging to about 48 miles range......each year it has been declining. With the heat/HVAC turned on it really reduces range significantly as you and all EV users know. I will look into contacting GM with the log of information that I have been compiling. I did take it to a delership and asked to have the health of the propulsion battery tested. The service writer said to me that I needed a new battery, the 12 Volt battery (similar to your story). I did not complain about any "starting" issues ONLY the declining of the propulsion battery range and I did emphasiz "propulsion Battery" many times to make my self clear. They then said it would cost about $250.00 and they would need it for a few days only to give me a progress report on a Warranty item....???? hmmmm..... Your story/experience gives me some hope....We really like this car!

[@EVResource]

Hopefully they’ll fix things for you! I found that not all dealerships are the same and you have to really push them to get the job done right. 🤞🤞

[@watzonda2b]

@@EVResource Yes, like anything today you have to be committed to the outcome.

[@The-DP79]

Just got my buyback offer on our dead battery 2016 Spark EV. Cash offer plus cash to put on our new Bolt was $11500, so not terrible (better than the other offers I called around and got, all stopped at $10,500)

[@EVResource]

Best wishes for you!

[@buminvegas]

How do you go start a buy back.

[@MB886]

Thanks for creating this video. I am a 2014 spark ev (LiFePO4 battery) owner and still love the car. In the summer we have 68 miles at full charge and the car still gets us around town with 20 miles to spare. We are thinking of replacing the battery in the next few years. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

[@EVResource]

_If_ you can get a battery for the car, it'll likely cost you as much as $13,000 (used) or $30,000 new. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it, but I've been telling people to get rid of the car if they don't want to deal with it. As much as it pains me to say it, these cars are dying and we won't see them on the road for very much longer.

[@samuie2]

TLDR: A battery replacement with a new battery is not possible on the 2014 spark ev and even if it was it would not be worth the cost or hassle. I also have a 2014 and it suffered from degradation covered under warranty. However, like you said the battery in the 14 is not the same as the later models. The dealership tried to replace the battery, even had one arrive ready for install. However the supporting parts required to convert from the A123 pack to the LG pack could not be sourced. So in the end my only option was a buyback. I didn't want to get rid of the car since even with the degradation it still met my needs. I was able to negotiate some GM credit towards a new vehicle as an alternative resolution. It wasn't ideal but I think it was the best option for my situation. Also I did not have the same positive experience with the dealership as @EVresource, and I tried multiple. And after GM released the memo about discontinuing support the dealership would all but refuse to talk to me about my car and I had to do everything directly through GM corporate.

[@MB886]

@@samuie2 I sold the car to CarMax and bought a bz4x.

[@MB886]

@@samuie2 I hope at some point the EV market becomes just like the combustible engine market. Where owners can end up doing a lot of the work ourselves. I don't trust any dealers or car makers. They are both always out for profit. At least with and ev you have less trips to the dealer. We needed a car for the northwest and the bz4x fit the bill (same as the Solterra). I've owned Toyotas all my life and decided on another. I know it's a first-year car, but I remember when the Tundra came out and that was a well built first year model. I took a chance with the bz4x, but I have yet to be disappointed. We went from 48- 64miles to 222 average miles and we don't charge everyday. Even makes it to the local ski hill and back 100mile round trip in the cold.

[@Chappomusic]

A just read that you already traded in the car . Over here in Holland there are shops who are refurbishing the car batteries . Just like the old days : new cells in excisting housing , new bcm’s and reinstall everything . Would be good option for a Spark. About the vid : I couldtell your battery pack is toasted from minute one. This will not happen nowadays with newer verhicles( not sure about Chinese cars though)

[@rexxephoenix]

I’ve been driving the 1.2L CVT since 2015 and not had one single mechanical issue. Only about $40 a month in gas. Although the electric torque of the EV I am very envious of haha.

[@EVResource]

Yeah, the Spark EV was a pioneer of modern GM EV technology (after the EV1 that is) and it’s a shame that they didn’t build them to last longer.

[@LFTRnow]

An 8 year battery warranty coupled with these vehicles dying frequently around this point would explain why I'm starting to see cheap Spark EVs on the market again. A few years ago they were 5-10k, then well over 10k, now back to the 6-10k range. A 2016 (last model) came out in 2015 and 2015 + 8 = 2023. All their warranties are over (along with parts support), and it costs more than the price of the car (used) for a new battery. Too bad. It looked like a neat deal.

[@EVResource]

Yeah, I wouldn’t buy one at this point unless I planned to use it for parts.

[@tonyrodriguez228]

I had the same issue and the 3miles and full green charge with the diagnostic light seems to be the same as yours. I needs a new battery and I am waiting now but there is one spark ev ahead of me and they been waiting since february. GM is renting me a car but the insurance alone on it makes it not worth having at 25.00 per day. I also got offer the buy back but I love the car and I can afford to wait until they get a new battery on mine. It only had 53k miles so hopefully GM is improving on this batteries to make them last longer. I did buy the car used so not sure how the first owner treated the car.

[@EVResource]

Hopefully you get back on the road soon!

[@tonyrodriguez228]

@@EVResource Still waiting and worst of all is that GM has no update. I really love the car but starting to think that it might be the best thing to just get my buy back offer. Getting worried that even if I get it fix, GM will not keep up with anything else that goes wrong in the future due to a lack of this cars and suppliers for parts

[@smhshyla]

@@tonyrodriguez228 what year is yours

[@tonyrodriguez228]

@@smhshyla 2016

[@lookblo]

which dealership you get your car serviced does make a difference... took my v6 camaro to dealership in Huntsville Alabama, they told me I needed a new engine.... take it to the dealership in Durham North Carolina, I needed a new thermostat

[@EVResource]

For sure! I’ve got so many stories about dealerships getting it wrong. It’s funny actually, when I first got the Spark EV I called a few local dealerships to ask about the car and two of them had never even heard of it! 😳😳

[@tonyrodriguez228]

update on Chevy Spark. We are now on the process of a buy back. The sparks are starting to piled up at the GM service centers as GM has no idea when they will get replacement batteries. I suspect they really never wanted to pursuit the replacement batteries and were always really after the buyback to get out of the Spark EV all together. One of the most fun and lovely cars I have ever owned that sadly GM did not care enough about and fail its customers and this car to keep on the roads. I will be staying away from GM from now on

[@EVResource]

It’s heartbreaking!

[@HellaCopter]

Wish Nissan cared about us this much 😢 we got it bad. 2012 leaf owner here 10 kWh on a full charge with 60k miles get about 3-4 miles per kWh warranty only lasted 5 years

[@EVResource]

Oh wow. That’s gotta be tough! 😕

[@mujkocka]

Happened to me yesterday. I had 4km left. And It didn’t move! I was once 1mins from home! It stopped! I had the same indicator of full battery and not matching the numbers

[@EVResource]

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. Is your car still under warranty?

[@kylelevesque7789]

Thanks for all the great information! Did GM offer an extension on the battery warranty for you? I'm in Midlothian VA and am debating buying a used 2016 for our local city commute.

[@EVResource]

Hey Kyle, no extension on the battery warranty as the replaced part was only for one year. That basically mirrored the amount of time I had left on the original warranty. If you’re serious about buying a Spark EV, let’s get together and I’ll show you mine. I live 10min from Midlo.

[@robberry8609]

I have a 2016 Spark EV. GM and the dealers know nothing about the Spark EV the dealer that i had test my battery, told me they did not know that there was a spark EV. And GM customer service Reps Just hangs up on you when you ask Question about the car.

[@EVResource]

Oh man. That’s horrible! I’m sorry that you haven’t had a better experience… sadly I get it 💯

[@ValkerieSilk]

Same thing happened to me with my 2016 after chevy updated the firmware... Martin Chevrolet in Torrance playing the same game... They don't honor the warranty... What a surprise.

[@EVResource]

The things people are telling me about the service and support are mostly revealing that the company (and/or dealerships) just don’t want to deal with the Spark EV anymore. That makes me very sad and upset. I get it, but I also think the company should support these vehicles more. Maybe to the 10 year-old point? There is no reason that the Chevy Spark EV should have a life that is less than that… even if it needs repairs.

[@ValkerieSilk]

@@EVResource Yeah, Chevy just wants them to go away, which is exactly what I intend to do when I buy my next car. No Way I'd purchase a Chevy Ever Again.

[@EVResource]

Completely understandable. Personally, I’m looking forward to reviewing and getting some experience with their next generation of EVs that use the Ultium platform. I’m not exactly on their good side though, so we’ll see what I end up having access to…

[@thebicycleguy7263]

A 2014 California original owner here. DCFC used about 4 times. Near dead to ~90% in about 15min. Range new ~103, now ~83. Awesome sleeper car. What brand of SCAN tool did you use? Can it read individual cell voltages? Would you like one that does?

[@EVResource]

I used Torque Pro on an Android Tablet. I honestly don't remember if the Bolt EV PIDS I used had the ability to read the voltages from each individual cell, but that does sound like it would come in handy! I'll have to look into it.

[@adelsadek2113]

Nice video and info., can U Pls help as I have a seriuos problem in My Chey Spark2015 EV, I'm in Egypt and no professional service available here

[@EVResource]

Thank you for your compliment! Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done with these cars anymore unless you have a Chevy dealership close.

[@typhoon320i]

it really looks like your tires are on backwards.

[@EVResource]

Two of them are I think. Great eye!

[@clownbooface2624]

Nice vid, gm void your remaining after seeing it?🤣🤣🤣

[@EVResource]

Nope. I don’t think they’d legally be able to do that.

[@lazmotron]

So the battery packs can't be replaced in a spark EV? So no one should buy a used Spark EV.

[@EVResource]

Out of warranty, there are very few options to replace the battery packs. And none that I’ve found for less than $10k… which doesn’t make sense for this car. Aside from that, there are numerous other parts that are no longer available. So yeah, no one should be a used Spark EV. It’s just going to be a headache down the road.

[@lazmotron]

Thanks for the heads up. I was thinking of getting one. Your review keeps me from making a costly mistake.👍

[@VidarTeiseniHeisen]

Please increase the background music a little bit, so it becomes completely impossible to hear the voice... sigh

[@EVResource]

Well… 😔🤔

[@Mrjazzzery]

SHOULD HAVE PUT A BAFANG MOTOR IN IT

[@EVResource]

Definitely not a good idea. The time and money wouldn’t be worth it.

[@hitman74]

Dude to many issues just go leaf

[@EVResource]

Many issues. Likely to have more for the people who still own Spark EVs. A leaf is a worse EV though. At least the Spark EV has liquid thermal management and CCS. I wouldn’t ever recommend someone buy a Leaf unless they really knew what they were getting into.

[@hitman74]

@@EVResource did you make a video of it?

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

You bought a Chevy in the last 57 years? What did you expect? Have you been under a rock?

[@EVResource]

I mean… 🤔

[@valleyofiron125]

I have a 2016 spark ev. I cant believe that chevy would help you with any waranty issues after you post videos of you abusing the car burning out and you put sone goofy after market wheels and tires on the car. Chevy should not have honered your waranty.

[@EVResource]

I’m not really sure how to respond to this. Can you help me understand more where you’re coming from? The wheels and tires don’t have anything to do with the battery warranty. Unless you know something I don’t… 🤷‍♂️