Each GM EV now has entry to 17,800 Tesla Superchargers for quick charging, with the lone exception being the Nineteen Nineties EV1. Meaning the Chevy Bolt—with its modest 55-kW most charging fee—can now faucet into Tesla’s community of 250-kW chargers. There’s only one hurdle you’ll have to beat.
“Bolts could have entry however would require an replace on the vendor,” GM expertise spokesperson Sanaz Marbley wrote to InsideEVs. “These prospects will get an electronic mail about it on launch day telling them extra.”
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Marbley says sellers can begin scheduling appointments instantly. Provided that it could take a bit on your adapter to come back—particulars on find out how to order right here—the software program replace probably gained’t be what slows you down. Nonetheless, it’s a hurdle Hummer, Lyriq, Silverado, Blazer, Equinox and Sierra EV house owners gained’t must cope with.
It in all probability shouldn’t be too stunning to be taught that there’s an additional step for the Bolt. The Bolt entered manufacturing in 2016, and as GM’s first long-range EV, it used an older electrical and software program structure that predates the corporate’s new Ultium platform. Whereas Ultium automobiles have broad over-the-air (OTA) replace capabilities, the Bolt has obtained few OTA patches, and it’s no shock to be taught {that a} extra substantial software program improve requires a vendor go to. In spite of everything, it’s not like GM deliberate for Supercharger compatibility when designing the Bolt in the course of the Obama administration.
The Bolt was additionally designed with the cost door on the entrance left of the automobile. That’s a standard location for charging ports. Nonetheless, Tesla’s Supercharger community was infuriatingly constructed out with quick cables and stalls designed purely for automobiles with their cost doorways on the driver-side rear of the automobile. Meaning Bolt house owners must park in a single stall and use the charging deal with of the adjoining Supercharger. It’s inelegant, however don’t fear. Tesla has stated that it’s okay for non-Tesla EVs to double park if it’s obligatory to make use of the charger.
The mix of double parking and gradual charging speeds will probably make the Bolt an unwelcome sight at a Supercharger. After we did a charging check in 2022, a Bolt EV took 73 minutes to cost from 10-80%. That’s about twice so long as it takes a Mannequin 3 to do the identical, and the Bolt will take twice as many stalls. We don’t suggest charging from 0-100% in any EV, however that’s very true within the Bolt. The final two occasions we tried it, it took over 2 hours.
However that doesn’t make fast-charging the Bolt ineffective. Chevy says that house owners can get 100 miles of vary in half-hour of charging, which suggests you’ll be able to journey about two hours between half-hour stops. It’s not very best—it’s 2016 tech—however folks can and do street journey this stuff. The facility of the charger isn’t a problem, so the supply of 250-kW Superchargers gained’t change a lot by way of cease time. With 17,800 extra dependable stalls to entry along with the present community, it’ll be simpler for Bolt house owners to plan routes that contain shorter, extra frequent stops.
Simply be sure your first cease is the dealership. Sellers are accepting appointments beginning in the present day, and when you get the software program replace and the adapter, you ought to be good to go.
