- Basic Motors-made EVs, together with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, can use the Tesla Supercharger community to recharge.
- Homeowners want an adapter to prime up at NACS-equipped stalls.
- Some Bolt EVs want a software program replace that may be carried out at a supplier.
Homeowners of Basic Motors-made EVs lastly gained entry to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger DC quick charging community in the USA final week, which is nice information for these lengthy highway journeys, seeing how the variety of Superchargers in North America exceeds 17,000.
The checklist of vehicles that may be recharged at Tesla stalls consists of names like the brand new Chevrolet Equinox EV, GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. It additionally consists of the venerable Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, which had been as soon as America’s most reasonably priced new battery-powered vehicles earlier than being discontinued (don’t fret, although, as the Bolt EUV is coming again with Ultium tech and an LFP battery.)
And it’s the Bolt that I’ll deal with right here as a result of, with over 200,000 models offered within the U.S. throughout its eight-year journey, it’s secure to say that there are nonetheless lots of them on American roads right now. It is probably not the fastest-charging, the largest or essentially the most luxurious EV on the market, nevertheless it’s all the time been the secure and reasonably priced alternative for these on the lookout for an city runabout.
Our personal Tom Moloughney was one of many first folks within the U.S. to cost the Bolt EV on a Tesla Supercharger. He made a relatively useful video, which I’ve embedded on the prime of this web page, and I’ll provide the gist of it in writing as effectively.
First, should you personal a Chevrolet Bolt EV, you need to know that some 2019 and 2020 model-year models will want a software program replace on the supplier to work with Tesla Superchargers. You’ll additionally want a CCS to NACS adapter, both from Basic Motors or a 3rd get together like A2Z or Lectron–the video covers a number of adapters.
One other factor to notice is that solely V3 Superchargers can be utilized to top-up non-Tesla EVs. You’ll find them by going to Tesla’s on-line Supercharger map and toggling the “Supercharger open to NACS” choice.
With all this in thoughts, earlier than you present as much as a appropriate Supercharger together with your Bolt EV and an adapter at hand, you might want to hyperlink your automobile to a cost methodology within the MyChevrolet app, in order that Tesla is aware of the place to attract cash from for the charging periods. All apps should be updated.
A 20% to 80% state-of-charge top-up of the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV on a V3 Tesla Supercharger.
That’s quite a bit to absorb, however when you recover from all these preliminary steps, all you might want to do is park front-first at a appropriate Supercharger, plug within the cable, launch the MyChevrolet smartphone app, choose the proper stall from the checklist and hit Cost Now.
In Tom Moloughney’s testing, each third-party adapters labored simply effective, funneling the utmost cost charge that the Bolt EV helps–55 kW–with out hiccups. The EV wanted 49 minutes to cost from 20% to 80% state of cost, which, once more, is regular Bolt EV conduct, however there was one subject the place the automobile stopped charging at 70% SoC and wanted to be unplugged and replugged to get to 80%. The charging curve was the identical as on different charging operators akin to EVgo and Electrify America, with the speed slowly happening after the battery state of cost handed the 55% mark.
So it’s all good. Virtually. That’s as a result of the Bolt EV’s charging port is on the front-left of the automobile, versus the rear-left of Tesla EVs. This implies you must pull into the charger on the suitable, successfully taking on two stalls. It’s the identical subject with Rivian EVs and the Ford F-150 Lightning. One answer to this downside is to try to cost on the right-most stall if there’s area to take action–if not, you’ll must take up two locations.
