rkiyer wrote:Your experience, especially with the regular summer charging, is reassuring, MrDRMorgan. I am hoping that I can charge frequently without impacting the long term battery capacity too much.
Two days after I posted my October 21 remarks, I purchased a 2016 Spark EV 2LT with 6700 miles on the ODO. Today, approximately 1000 miles later, the full-charge range on my 2015 Spark EV [24,000 miles on the ODO] is about 5 miles lower than my 2016 Spark EV [7700 miles on the ODO]. There are a lot of variables that affect the range so I figure it is just about a wash between the 2015 and the 2016. However, my 2014 Spark EV w/o the quick-charge option [ 12,200 miles on the ODO] continues to outperform both the 2015 and the 2016. I expect to see some battery degradation on all three cars. How much remains to be seen but, so far, I am quite happy with all three.
Recently, the SERVICE VEHICLE SOON light went on in my 2015. I took the car to the dealer and they said the error code was related to a defect in the DC charging module. I was told I could slow charge the car but the quick-charge option would not work. A part was ordered. But.... when I picked up the car at the dealer, the SERVICE VEHICLE light was off and my mi/kWh numbers were going all over the map. I took the car to my local DCFC station and proceeded to quick-charge with no problems. Today, after a few hundred miles of driving and a number of quick-charge visits, the SERVICE VEHICLE light remains off and the mi/kWh number are returning to near normal. It looks like some memory section got erased and reset and that fixed the problem. I still plan to have the new part installed when it arrives.
I continue to try not to let the HV battery capacity drop below 30% and, when I quick-charge, I disconnect at 90-95%. At home I use both a L1 and L2 EVSE and I usually charge overnight to 100%.
All three Spark EVs continue to be a trouble-free joy to drive. It will be very hard to part with my 2015 Spark EV when the lease ends in May. But, I still have the 2014 and 2016 Spark EVs which I own.