GM Reportedly Stops Making Chevy Spark EV Batteries

pcmag.com:

Chevy Spark EV owners are facing up to the prospect of having an electric vehicle that is undriveable and effectively junk in the near future.

According to EV Resource, GM has decided it will no longer provide replacement batteries for the Spark EV. The parts departments at Chevy dealerships confirmed to EV Resource that the replacement battery part was removed as an option on April 7, but was already on back order before then.

What this means is, when the rechargeable battery contained in a Spark EV ceases to function, there is no fix and the car can no longer be driven. Owners will end up having to pay to get the vehicle taken away unless they preempt the battery failure and get rid of the car before it happens. Selling these vehicles doesn't seem viable, though, other than for scrap value.

GM sold the Chevy Spark EV between 2013-2016, but never intended for broad adoption across the US. Instead it was viewed as a "compliance car" for states with zero-emission vehicle mandates. In the end, GM sold somewhere in the region of 7,400 vehicles before it was discontinued, according to Electrek.

The Spark EV was sold with an eight year/100,000 mile warranty, which means some owners may still be covered, but that doesn't guarantee GM will have any batteries left to fix your car and an alternative may be offered. Perhaps you'll get some money towards a Chevy Bolt EV?

While the impact of this decision will be limited due to how many Chevy Spark EVs there are, it does pose a bigger question regarding support for old EVs. There is no one battery standard car manufacturers adhere to, so owners are reliant on a single source for replacement batteries in most cases. Is the Spark EV just the first sign of things to come for other EVs