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 charge—can now faucet into Tesla’s community of 250-kW chargers. There’s only one hurdle you’ll have to beat.
“Bolts may have entry however would require an replace on the vendor,” GM expertise spokesperson Sanaz Marbley wrote to InsideEVs. “These clients will get an e mail about it on launch day telling them extra.”
Normal Motors
Marbley says sellers can begin scheduling appointments instantly. Provided that it could take a bit to your adapter to return—particulars on order right here—the software program replace seemingly gained’t be what slows you down. Nonetheless, it’s a hurdle Hummer, Lyriq, Silverado, Blazer, Equinox and Sierra EV homeowners gained’t need to take care of.
It in all probability shouldn’t be too shocking 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 typical 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 homeowners 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 needed to make use of the charger.
The mixture of double parking and gradual charging speeds will seemingly make the Bolt an unwelcome sight at a Supercharger. Once we did a charging take a look at 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 advocate charging from 0-100% in any EV, however that’s very true within the Bolt. The final two instances we tried it, it took over 2 hours.
However that doesn’t make fast-charging the Bolt ineffective. Chevy says that homeowners can get 100 miles of vary in half-hour of charging, which suggests you may journey about two hours between half-hour stops. It’s not superb—it’s 2016 tech—however individuals can and do highway journey these items. The facility of the charger is never a difficulty, so the provision 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 prevailing community, it’ll be simpler for Bolt homeowners to plan routes that contain shorter, extra frequent stops.
Simply make sure that your first cease is the dealership. Sellers are accepting appointments beginning right now, and when you get the software program replace and the adapter, you ought to be good to go.
